A statement by TVN, TVN24, Onet and WP regarding proposed presidential debate

TVN, TVN24, Onet and WP have reached out to the campaign leadership of both presidential candidates in an attempt to organise a debate. We believed that such independent debate, broadcast through traditional and internet media, would help millions of our viewers and users to make a conscious and responsible decision in the second round of the presidential election.

We've done our best for the planned debate to be fully democratic, transparent and unbiased, as well as to broadcast it for the first time both through television and internet, in order to create a chance to watch it by virtually all citizens, both in Poland and abroad.

By extending the invitation to the debate we hoped to sit down with campaign leaders in order to discuss all the details and rules. Unfortunately, Andrzej Duda's campaign staff refused to take part in the talks and finally informed us that their candidate would not participate in the debate. Therefore, we regret to inform that the debate, scheduled for Thursday July 2, will not take place.

Michał Samul, editor-in-chief of TVN24

Bartosz Węglarczyk, editor-in-chief of Onet

Piotr Mieśnik, editor-in-chief of WP