Analysis and comparison of the general election debates in Spain (2015 & 2016) and Serbia (2016): new television formats for new political scenarios

Abstract

The history of election debates is a clear reflection of the political context of a country at such an important moment as the general elections. Spain and Serbia are two countries of different democratic culture and political reality; however, in the two states there is a recent tradition of political debates that are organized in general, parliamentary and presidential election campaigns. The main objective of this study is a comparative analysis of the format of these electoral television programs in order to observe the results, the main similarities and differences in the realization, the discussed topics, the role of the moderators and the spatial and temporal distribution. In Spain, before the general elections in 2015, three debates were organized between two candidates (PP-PSOE), among three (PSOE-Podemos-Ciudadanos) and four candidates (PP-PSOE-Podemos-Ciudadanos). The debates were organized by the Academy of Television Sciences and Arts, El País Digital and Atresmedia group, respectively. In June 2016, new general elections were held in Spain because the political parties failed to form a government with previous results. This time only one debate was organized among four candidates (PP-PSOE-Podemos-Ciudadanos). On the other hand, in the last parliamentary elections in Serbia, on April 24, 2016, three debates were organized, on 19, 20 and 21 April, in which participated up to 10 parties and citizens' movements. All debates were organized by Radio Television of Serbia and the Center for Free Elections and Democracy (CeSID).