The model for the televised debates was only finalized last week, after an initial refusal by PS and AD of 28 face-to-face meetings between the leaders of the eight parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic and a second proposal - which involved three debates between the forces with parliamentary seats and a face-to-face meeting between PS and the Democratic Alliance (PSD, CDS-PP and PPM) - having generated threats of precautionary measures and having been rejected by the socialists.

The model that generated consensus among the eight parties with parliamentary seats - but against which the ADN party filed a precautionary measure - provides for six debates with four parties and two debates with eight, one on RTP and another organized by the radio stations.

The first four-way confrontation will be today on SIC, at 8:30 pm, with an approximate duration of 50 minutes and will feature the leaders of AD, Sebastião Bugalho, PS, Marta Temido, IL, João Cotrim de Figueiredo, and Livre, Francisco Paupério.

The second will be on Wednesday, on RTP, with the "number one" of BE Catarina Martins, PAN Pedro Fidalgo Marques, Chega António Tânger Corrêa, and Livre, followed, on Friday, on TVI, by the confrontation between the leaders of CDU, João Oliveira, BE, IL and Livre.

The fourth debate will take place on SIC on May 20 and will feature CDU, PAN, Chega and IL. The following day, May 21, it will be the turn of a new debate on RTP, with PS, AD, Chega and CDU.

The cycle of six four-way debates ends on TVI, on May 24, with PS, AD, Bloco de Esquerda and PAN.

On Friday, the National Democratic Alternative (ADN) party announced that it had filed a precautionary measure against RTP, SIC and TVI because these television stations did not include the party in this model of televised debates.

"Although ADN does not have a European parliamentary seat, the Chega, Liberal Initiative and Livre parties also do not, so the different treatment of the candidacies is not understood", the party justifies.

On May 28, RTP will hold a debate with the eight leaders of the parties represented in the Assembly of the Republic and, on the 30th, the public broadcaster will broadcast another debate with nine candidates from other parties without parliamentary representation.

On June 3, it will be the turn of the radio debate, between 9:30 am and 11:30 am, a joint organization of Antena 1, Rádio Renascença (RR), Rádio Observador and TSF.

The campaign for the European elections starts on May 27 and runs until June 7. The European elections are scheduled for June 9.

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