Romania presidential elections: Ponta and Iohannis can’t agree on TV confrontation

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta and the mayor of Sibiu Klaus Iohannis, the two presidential candidates who will compete in the second round of the presidential elections, on Sunday, Novembr 10, haven’t reached an agreement on a televised political debate and the chances of having such a confrontation are lower by the day. The campaign staffs two presidential candidates don’t agree on the format and on the location of the debate, although there were many proposals in the last week. The national television TVR has invited the two candidates to participate in a debate in a location of their choice, and even let them chose the subject, the rules and the moderators, but didn’t get any answer. Incumbent President Traian Basescu offered to let Ponta and Iohannis hold their debate at the Cotroceni Palace, which is the official residence of Romania’s President, but Victor Ponta refused, saying that Basescu is trying to help Iohannis. Iohannis also launched several proposals for a debate, via his campaign staff. The latest proposal, made on Monday, November 10, was for a meeting at the Parliament’s Palace (also known as The House of the People), on Thursday, November 13, at 8:00 PM. The debate would be free for any television which would want to broadcast it. Ponta’s staff said it didn’t receive any proposal from the Iohannis team. Ponta’s team launched a different proposal, saying that the two candidates should have four debates at four different news channels. For the current PM not having a TV debate doesn’t seem to be a big deal, as he benefits from a larger exposure in the media, due to his executive role. TV confrontations proved to be decisive in three of the latest four presidential elections. In each of these debates, the social democrat candidate lost. In 2004, Traian Basescu managed to beat Adrian Nastase, who was Prime Minister at that time, following a debate. In 2009, it was also the final debate which gave Basescu the edge against Mircea Geana. “Why did you meet Sorin Ovidiu Vantu last night?” was the question that brought Basescu the victory, leaving Geoana babbling in front of millions of Romanians. Former media mogul and millionaire Sorin Ovidiu Vantu, who is best known for his connection with the biggest mutual fund bankruptcy in Romania, in 2000, was not a popular character at that time and the visit Geoana paid him a few days before the elections proved fatal for him. But probably the most memorable moment in the history of Romanian presidential confrontations was in 1996, when Emil Constantinescu competed against Ion Iliescu, who was president at that time. “Mister Iliescu, do you believe in God?” Constantinescu asked. It was a question that took Iliescu by surprise and lost him the elections. editor@romania-insider.com