Preparations for the 2021 presidential debates have started, this paper has been reliably informed.

The Commission on Political Debates (CDP) will be running the debates in partnership with other stakeholders in the run up to the presidential elections in 2021.

The Presidential debate launch is slated for October 10 by CDP, two years ahead of the actual debates to prepare the groundwork with other players in the political process.

The Executive Director of the CPD, Bakary Fatty said “I am very pleased that the Commission on Political Debates is taking on the challenge and opportunity of organising political debates among our politicians. We came up with one in the 2016 presidential election.”

He said that election ushered in a change of leadership in the country from Yahya Jammeh to Adama Barrow.

“The political environment at the moment is one of political tolerance, civility, and incivility. That is why, in the collective view of me and my team, we think now is the time to press ahead with promoting the idea behind the debates so that all the party leaders can see merit in it to take part,” Mr. Fatty told The Point newspaper.

He assured all the political parties that the CPD is a neutral institution inspired by the ideals of democracy, rule of law, social mobility and justice for all Gambians.

“We are very lucky in that we have all the important players on board in the country who want the best representative democracy of the Gambia. We had some challenges last time we organized the debates. That is why we are rolling the ball so soon.”

In the last presidential election in December 2016, the CPD organised a presidential debate among the political parties, with only the ARPC boycotting it.