[ELECTIONS 2003] No Debate

Ivo Sanader has offered debate to Ivica Račan (Ivica Racan). Račan has grudgingly accepted, but the debate – which most believe Sanader, as a man with theatre experience, should win – is not going to happen. State Electoral Commission considers such debate, if aired on national television, to be breech of electoral rules that guarantee equal treatment of all political parties. "Equal treatment" means that either all parties should be given airtime to debate with Račan (and everyone else) or none of them, including the strongest, should engage in such one-on-one debates.

The only debates allowed by electoral rules are debates that include all candidates' lists in a single electoral district.