No 52 (2023): Electoral debates: Scenography, aesthetics, or discourse?

We are in a decisive year for the political future of Spain. After several tumultuous years, marked by failed investitures, repeated elections beyond the two-month deadline stipulated in Article 99 of our Constitution, the first successful motion of censure in over 40 years of constitutional democracy, arduous negotiations to form a government, and agreements that have led to the first coalition government in our history, 2023 arrives with several electoral contests.

Spanish political life seems to continue as a subject of interesting analysis, especially in a year as "electoral" as 2023. The intensity experienced in recent years anticipates an even more intense 2023, with a first-rate informational effervescence in political life. Hence, the University, the Academy, cannot remain on the sidelines of issues that still require rigorous and thoughtful analysis, which may even lead to legislative adaptation of matters scarcely addressed in our legal system. Such is the case of televised electoral debates.

We present this issue 52, dedicated to "Election Debates: Set design, aesthetics, or discourse?" which includes several in-depth investigations on this matter.