laSexta postpones first election debate to 10 November after Urda train crash

The postponement

laSexta, the Atresmedia channel, has postponed the first of two electoral debates moderated by Ana Pastor because of the train accident in Urda (Toledo) on Wednesday, 28 October. Reports published on 29 October put the death toll at at least 69, with more than 100 people injured. The debate had been scheduled for Monday, 2 November, at the start of the campaign for the general election on 29 November.

In a statement posted on its social media accounts, the channel explained the change in these words:

“Due to the railway tragedy, La Sexta is postponing the first electoral debate.”

New date

Reports from 29 October initially gave Monday, 9 November as the new date, a week after the original slot. A later laSexta report from the night of 29 October moved the debate to Tuesday, 10 November, and said it would be held with a studio audience. The two debates were both meant to be held in November, and the reports did not give a date for the second one.

Participants and format

The debate follows the UK-style model, which laSexta says guarantees flexibility and openness in its topics. Housing and the economy are the subjects set for the first encounter. Pablo Bustinduy will represent Frente Amplio and José María Figaredo will represent Vox. PSOE and PP had not yet named their spokespeople at the time of reporting. The debates can be followed through Atresplayer's international version.

Wider schedule changes

The accident has also reshuffled television schedules since Wednesday. La 1, Antena 3, Cuatro, Telecinco and laSexta have all changed their programming to give priority to coverage of the tragedy. The Ana Pastor debates are not connected to the head-to-head encounters between the main candidates, and the channels that will host those had not been agreed by the parties.