The Vitebsk Television and Radio Company is ready to host debates for parliamentary candidates

August 16, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. The "Vitebsk" TV and Radio Company is ready to host debates for candidates for deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the fifth convocation, Anatoly Kamovich, director of the republican unitary enterprise of the radio and television center "Vitebsk" TV and Radio Company, told a BELTA correspondent. Television and radio debates are one of the innovations of the current parliamentary campaign. All candidates for deputies can participate in them if they wish. In the Vitebsk region, elections will be held in 14 constituencies. If two or more contenders for a deputy mandate in each of them express a desire to discuss, the TV and radio company is ready to hold 14 such programs. "Technical capabilities allow this to be done, the debate moderator has been determined, and final preparations are underway in the studio for recording. An additional hour of airtime has been allocated for broadcasting the speeches of candidates and TV debates - from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM on the Belarus-2 TV channel," Anatoly Kamovich added. In accordance with the Electoral Code, each candidate for deputy has the right to use the opportunity to voice their election program on television and radio. For this, they are provided with five minutes of free airtime, usually during prime time. TV and radio debates for candidates will also be free, and participation in them is another opportunity to get additional time for broad dissemination of their position and program. As soon as all candidates for deputies are registered, their schedule of appearances on television and radio will be known. It will also become clear whether the contenders for a deputy mandate will want to participate in public debates and how many such programs will appear on the air. All candidates for deputies will be familiarized with the regulations and structure of the debates, and the powers of the moderator before their performance. Currently, the district election commissions in the Vitebsk region are reviewing document packages and registering candidates for deputies. 61 citizens have expressed a desire to become candidates for deputies of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the fifth convocation from the 14 electoral districts located in the Vitebsk region. The registration procedure will last until August 23 inclusive. Election campaigning in Belarus starts from the day of registration of candidates for deputies and will continue until September 22 inclusive. The main voting day is scheduled for September 23. -0-