The only televised debate of the presidential campaign took place in Karasicena last night, with election frontrunner Ivan Tattar dominating the discussion. Mr Tattar, the Unionist candidate, squeezed Coalition contender Katrina Fischer who appeared withdrawn and at times failed to respond to a series of questions from her major challengers – Mr Tattar and the Nationalist candidate Alexei Sukhorokhov. Mr Sukhorokhov also focused his attacks on Ms Fischer as his party vies to qualify for a run-off election.
Ms Fischer started the debate confidently, but quickly came under attack over a range of policy issues her campaign had raised. Mr Sukhorokhov branded Fischer ‘shameful’ for refusing to back stronger immigration measures and said that she had ‘no vision’ for the future of the nation. Claiming he would be the ‘toughest’ president, Sukhorokhov continued his well rehearsed narrative that the country wanted ‘safety and security’ and said that by qualifying for the run-off, the Nationalists would ‘make history’. But it was Mr Tattar who’s pitch held up throughout the evening most convincingly – taking a range of questions from the audience and responding with clarity, commentators felt that Mr Tattar had consolidated his front-runner status heading into next Sunday’s election.
Tattar’s signature policy of a new minimum pay bill for workers got the biggest applause of the night from the audience, and is expected to be the major focus of his campaign in the next week. The Unionists are vying for their fourth consecutive presidential election victory.
