Electoral debates between Maia Sandu and Alexandr Stoianoglo to take place at Palace of the Republic on 27 October

Chisinau, 22 October /MOLDPRES/ - The debates between the two candidates for the Moldovan president’s office, Maia Sandu and Alexandr Stoianoglo, will take at the Palace of the Republic on 27 October.
Maia Sandu provided details on the discussions on preparing the debates. ‘’On 21 October, I called on my counter-candidate to hold debates. My team spoke to his team; I proposed to go to the national television; this was refused; after which the format suggested by us was refused. I came up with the initiative to make the debates on next Thursday; they wanted to do this next week. We reached a compromise; we will have the debate on next Sunday,’’ Maia Sandu said.     
Candidate Maia Sandu also referred to the debates’ moderator. ‘’They came up with the proposal of Gheorghe Gonta. We, just the other people or other journalists, believe that there should be an independent moderator; but given that they insist, we go to the debate with anyone with whom they feel comfortable. For us, it important that we have this debate, so that the people see our answers to important questions for all citizens,’’ Maia Sandu stressed.   
The debates are to take place at the Palace of the Republic from Chisinau and the broadcasting is to be provided by the Teleradio-Moldova Company.
The candidate of the Action and Solidarity Party (PAS), Maia Sandu, on 21 October invited the candidate of the Party of Socialists (PSRM), Alexandr Stoianoglo, to electoral debates. Also on 21 October, Alexandr Stoianoglo said that he would participate in the electoral debates; yet, he demanded the holding of the debates on a neutral platform, with two moderators, one on behalf of PSRM and PAS each.   
Maia Sandu and Alexandr Stoianoglo are to fight in the runoff presidential election. The ballot is to take place two weeks after the date of the first round of the polls – on 3 November.