Presidential candidates meet in historic debate

The two presidential candidates, incumbent Václav Klaus and challenger Jan Švejnar, met in a historic televised debate on Tuesday. The hour-long question-and-answer session took place before senators of the opposition Social Democrats. The questions covered political, economic and environmental issues as well as matters of national security and the country’s membership in the European Union. Mr. Klaus said he offered years of experience in the field, his rival Jan Švejnar the ability to consolidate the political scene. It was the one and only time the two candidates came face to face in the month-long election campaign.