MADRID, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The celebration of the only televised debate between the leaders of the five largest parties contesting the Spanish general election on April 28 is now in doubt after the Spanish Electoral Board (Junta Electoral Central) on Tuesday vetoed the presence of the extreme right-wing party Vox.

The debate between party leaders, Pedro Sanchez (Spanish Socialist Party - PSOE), Pablo Casado, (People's Party - PP), Albert Rivera (Ciudadanos), Pablo Iglesias (Unidos-Podemos) and Santi Abascal (Vox) was due to be broadcast live on April 23 by the Spanish medial group 'Artesmedia' on its networks, Antena 3 and LaSexta, just five days before Spaniards go to the polls.

It would have been the only televised debate between the five leaders in the campaign, however, on Tuesday the Electoral Board, which has the task of ensuring neutrality is maintained during election campaigns, said Vox should not take part.

Although opinion polls predict the party will win around 10-12 percent of the vote on April 28, the Electoral Board decided Abascal's party cannot participate in the debate because it has no representation in Congress.

The Board took the decision after appeals by other Spanish parties (Basque Nationalist Party, Esquerra Republicana, Junts per Catalunya and Coalition Canaria) that they had not been invited to the debate despite having seats in Congress.

Spanish electoral law states that: "during the electoral period, broadcasts from private networks have to respect the principals of pluralism and equality," and that "private television networks also have to respect the principals of proportionality and neutrality in electoral debates and interviews."

Abascal reacted to the decision with a 'tweet' in which he complained "some people do not know what to do to exclude Vox," while Podemos leader, Pablo Iglesias also expressed his opposition to the decision.

"It is absurd to veto candidates on a private TV network," commented Iglesias, adding that the Electoral Board should "oblige all candidates to hold at least two debates on public television."

It is now uncertain what will happen, especially as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez previously rejected a head-to-head debate with PP leader Casado and a four-way debate with Casado, Rivera and Iglesias, but without Absacal on state TV network, RTVE. Enditem

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