Alfonso Fernández Mañueco Declines Face-to-Face Electoral Debate

Alfonso Fernández Mañueco, the President of the Junta of Castilla and León and the PP candidate, has chosen not to participate in the face-to-face electoral debate proposed by RTVE. This decision comes as the PSOE candidate, Carlos Martínez, has accepted the proposition for the upcoming regional elections set for March 15. RTVE sources confirmed on Thursday that Mañueco will opt out of this bilateral debate. Instead, he plans to take part in the two debates mandated by law under the current electoral regulations. His campaign team communicated to RTVE that this decision aligns with adherence to the legal framework governing the electoral process, indicating that neither the current laws nor the regulations necessitate an additional face-to-face debate beyond the required two. The electoral law for Castilla and León states that candidates for the presidency from political formations with official parliamentary representation must engage in a minimum of two public debates during the campaign. However, the law does not limit candidates to only two debates, leaving room for additional opportunities for discourse. In response to the news, the PSOE pointed out that Fernández Mañueco's refusal to engage in a face-to-face debate lacks democratic justification. The party criticized the popular party, calling their reasons mere excuses, and accused them of avoiding direct confrontation with ideas and transparency towards the public. This refusal adds Mañueco to a notable list of PP leaders who have shunned public debates, including prominent figures such as the national leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, and the acting president of Extremadura, María Guardiola, all of whom have also avoided direct engagements during pivotal moments in the political arena. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2