The Broadcasting Authority has issued restrictive guidelines to ensure fairness and impartiality in televised debates between party leaders and their deputies.

Moderators are not permitted to engage in discussions and must stick to asking fair and topical questions: an equal number to each speaker.

“It is not the role of a moderator to comment on the interventions or replies of the participants but to ask about facts that emerge from the questions that are made fairly to each participant,” the Broadcasting Authority said.

The moderator should also discourage interruptions to ensure that viewers can follow exactly what is being said by the speakers.

Live audiences are also expected to restrain themselves. According to the guidelines, issued by the broadcasting watchdog on Wednesday, audiences should be divided equally between the parties. Clapping or other interruptions will not be allowed except in the beginning or end of the programmes.

Questions from members of the public should be handed to the producers before and chosen on the basis of impartiality, balance and fairness, showing equal treatment to both sides.

The regulator has also been specific about the camera angles and shots that can be used.

There cannot be any cutaways on individual reactions of audience members while one of the speakers is having his say. Only close-ups of audience members asking questions are allowed unless a speaker is specifically addressing an individual audience member.

Group shots or wide shots of the audience are to be allowed during the debate but these should be divided equally if they are used during the time a speaker is talking.

The Broadcasting Authority has also ruled that there should be no vote or televoting question on who won the debate.