ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the history and evolution of televised electoral debates in Spain, from the first one held in 1993 to the present date. Moreover, it describes the normative framework regulating them and analyses the role of second screens and social networks before, during, and after the debates.
In Spain, several elections have occurred without televised debates, since there is not a specific regulation that requires them or a state audiovisual council, similar to those existing in other European countries, such as OFCOM in the U.K. This has caused numerous political conflicts as well as confrontations and discrepancies between the State and some of the autonomous regions which held elections, as in the last national elections in 2019, and the regional elections in Catalonia in 2017.
However, the breakdown of bipartisanship, along with the emergence of new political parties, has resulted in a reformulation in the structure of Spanish debates, which have evolved from the classical face-to-face format to ones with more candidates.
Similarly, in recent years the emergence of second screens has caused the appearance on social networks of parallel and alternative debates to the televised ones. Nevertheless, neither political parties nor television networks are adequately meeting the needs of new audiences, who are demanding a greater involvement in the digital debate.
