Hilšer left the debate on Nova, it bothers him that the favorites should debate separately
Update: 12/01/2023 18:50
Issued by: 12/01/2023, 17:30
Prague – Senator Marek Hilšer immediately left the debate of the five presidential candidates on Nova TV. At the same time, he criticized the unequal approach to candidates for the post of head of state, when the three most successful candidates according to the polls will debate separately on the same TV from 8:00 p.m. News director of Nova TV Kamil Houska told ČTK that the candidates with the concept of the debate, which gives them more space, knew and agreed to participate.
Hilšer arrived at the debate from 5:00 p.m., which was also attended by SPD deputy Jaroslav Bašta, businessman Karel Diviš, senator Pavel Fischer and former rector of Charles University Tomáš Zima. Three hours later, the debate between former prime minister Andrej Babiš, former rector of Mendel University Danuša Nerudová and former high representative of the army Petr Pavl will begin.
The television station explained in the introduction that the candidates in the first debate were ranked fourth to eighth after averaging the polls. Hilšer said that such a procedure is unfair because of the voters, who have the right to have their candidates appear under equal and fair conditions. “Not according to the powerful in this country,” he stated.
He explained his departure by saying that the president must play the game and be able to stand up to wrongdoing. “Unfortunately, I don’t see equal conditions here today,” he stated. Before leaving the studio, Hilšer shook hands with those present and placed a photo of himself on his desk in the studio.
Houska told ČTK that all the candidates were informed in advance about the concept of the debate and agreed to participate. “The division is based on averaging the results of all pre-election polls of the relevant agencies over the last few weeks. This way, all candidates have much more space to express themselves,” he said. He recalled that the television of the parliamentary elections chose the same model and received positive feedback. “The option to leave the study is also the candidate’s choice,” added Houska.
In a subsequent press release, Hilšer added that unfavored candidates should “serve only as a background to the main battle”. He wished the other candidates good luck in the elections and asked the Czech citizens to go vote and not be disgusted. “It’s no disrespect, but there’s a fight to be had,” he concluded before leaving the studio. When asked by Nova TV, he clarified that his gesture does not mean withdrawing from the election.
Political scientist Jan Herzmann in online broadcasting Nový stated that Hilšer followed the rule “separate yourself or die”. “He tried to be different. I felt it might bring him attention from those who consider themselves rebels, who don’t want to do things the usual way,” he said. According to him, the departure was “nice theater”, and it will not harm Hilšer with potential voters, because he probably did not say anything that they had not heard before.
After his departure, the other candidates debated the economy, pension reform, the war in Ukraine and presidential powers. In the beginning, Diviš criticized Babiš for not participating in the debate and only accepting the invitation to the debates later today in Nova. “The card lady rightly advised you that you should focus on your family, enjoy your retirement,” he said. The head of ANO called on him to withdraw from the elections and asked citizens to vote for Diviš instead of Babiš.
The first election round will take place in the Czech Republic this Friday on Saturday, when the results should be known during the afternoon. If none of the candidates receives more than half of the support in the initial round, the two most successful will advance to the final, which will take place in two weeks. The presidential candidates originally included professional leader Josef Středula, who, however, announced his nomination on Sunday on Czech Television.
