Samaras’ and Tsipras’ agenda for the debate

The first ND and SYRIZA contacts to conduct the first duel of the main contenders of the premiership, which seems to be heading for next Monday, June 11, are taking place with leaks from both sides, competing on who wants the debate more than the other.

SYRIZA members say Alexis Tsipras wants a free televised debate that will cover all subjects, but expresses reservations about whether ND wants the same. They say that Antonis Samaras’ partners are seeking to lead the processes to a dead end in order to cancel the debate. In addition, they explain that their wish is for the debate to escape the narrow limits to which it was restricted in previous years and to have a dialogue in which every political leader will be able to reply directly to his interlocutor or even interrupt him.

ND reiterates the recent statements by Antonis Samaras, who asked for the debate, and talks about "unsubstantiated leaks that supposedly Samaras does not wish to have a dialogue."

However, given that recent polls show the rates of the two parties are close with their difference within the limits of statistical error, it might be that such a debate could play a key role in shaping the election outcome.