A magyar miniszterelnök-jelölti viták a változás útján
Discussions of Hungarian prime minister candidates on the way of change

Summary/Abstract: Without any doubt, the televised debates of the Prime Ministerial candidates were the most eagerly expected media events of the 2006 Hungarian electoral campaign. The two televised debates in the 2006 campaign witnessed huge changes regarding the format and rules and provided some important lessons to politicians, broadcasters and the public as well. The professionalisation of the televised debates occurred in American way. The length, the format and the numerous restrictions of these events underpin this assumption. The debates became much tighter and definitely gave more information about the programs of the candidates than in 1998 and 2002, which are obviously positive changes. However, the new format lead to debates in which the chance that unanticipated developments would happen was very low. It was apparent that the extremely strict rules seriously cut down the opportunity of conversation between the candidates and turned the debates in the series of previously memorised monologs. In the absence of any agreement or memorandum of understanding, it is very likely that the „debate on the debate” will also be essential part of the next electoral campaign and will provide a good opportunity to the political parties to spend weeks discussing the number, the dates and specific details of the debates. In view of the experiences of this year’s televised debates, the author makes a proposal aiming a more open format that would provide more space for spontaneity and debate. This proposal contains the reduction of topics touched during the debate and the abolition of strict time frames within each topic.

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