Debate among Greece’s top political leaders set for Wed. evening; general elex on May

The first debate between political party leaders, and possibly the last before the May 21 general election in Greece will take on Wednesday evening, set to begin just after 8 p.m. local time.

All of the political leaders of parties currently represented in the country’s 300-deputy Parliament will participate, with the two main rivals being incumbent Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who heads the center-right New Democracy (ND) party, and former premier and leftist SYRIZA party leader Alexis Tsipras.

The live telecast will take place at the main studio of public broadcaster ERT.

News anchors from six private television stations broadcasting nationally will ask the candidates questions, while an ERT anchorman will moderate the debate.

A journalist’s question in all six thematic segments – agreed to by party representatives – cannot exceed 30 seconds, while answers cannot exceed a minute and a half, with a follow-up allowed for up to 45 seconds.

Specific segments of the debate include the economy and employment; foreign policy and defense; state institutions and transparency; health, education and the social state; the environment and energy, and the sixth focusing on the younger generations.

The entire telecast is expected to continue until roughly midnight.