Nearly three quarters of Ukrainians – 73.5 percent – believe the presidential candidates to compete in the second round of the presidential election must hold public debates.
A nationwide poll conducted by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation and the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) on March 20-26, that is, even before the first round of the election, whose findings were presented at a press conference in Kyiv on April 4, showed that 43.8 percent of respondents believe debates between the two candidates definitely have to be held, while 29.7 percent are of the view that such debates are desirable. Only 17.8 percent of those polled think debates are unnecessary.
When asked about subjects that the candidates should address in debates, 42 percent said they should discuss how to achieve peace in Donbas, free the occupied territories there and reintegrate them into Ukraine, 40 percent how to overcome corruption and achieve economic growth, 39 percent how Ukraine should develop during their presidency and beyond, and 31.5 percent what national problems they would tackle first if elected.
