Not a model to follow: Austrian presidential debate descends into ‘dishonourable farce’

[muriel_volestrangler]

Experimental debate with no moderator backfires as candidates trade insults

When the Krone tabloid accuses you of low standards, you know you’ve blown it. And Austria’s best-selling newspaper didn’t mince its words on Monday, dubbing “a dishonourable farce” the television debate hours earlier between the country’s two presidential hopefuls.

Ahead of Sunday’s second-round run-off, Austria’s ATV channel’s experiment – a political debate with no moderator – rapidly descended into car-crash television.
...
A prickly Hofer began attacking his Green Party challenger. He took the bait and the debate descended rapidly into a slanging match.

Van der Bellen, a 72-year-old economics professor, accused Hofer of being a cheeky liar. Hofer, who until then had presented himself as the moderate face in the extreme right FPÖ, let his mask slip somewhat by dubbing his opponent a “shitty c*nt”.

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/europe/austrian-presidential-debate-descends-into-dishonourable-farce-1.2650001

As the debate drew to a close, commentator Thomas Hofer (no relation, of course) summed up proceedings for ATV's viewers: "Both disgraced themselves, the office of the president is damaged, that was kindergarten level."

The verdict

Austrian newspaper Kronen Zeitung described the debate as "embarrassing" and said that one might well ask after this "undignified farce": "And these two want to be president?"

Meanwhile Sueddeutsche Zeitung concluded that "no-one emerged victorious from this political mud-wrestling".

Writing in Der Standard, Colette Schmidt said the knowledge gained for viewers on the factual level was zero. The format was not to blame, she said, but you have to invite people who want to talk to each other.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-36304313

[Blue_Tires]

1. What the hell did they expect to happen with no moderator?

[octoberlib]

2. Proof that moderators are essential during a debate. Even the shitty ones

will maintain some order. Although, the GOP debates had plenty of name-calling even with moderators. "Cheeky liar" made me laugh.