¿Debates electorales de peor calidad?: evolución del formato cara a cara en España

Electoral debates held in Spain have historically reflected the two-party logic of the political system, as evidenced by the predominance of face-to-face encounters between the main candidates. This configuration has persisted even after the recent transition toward a multi-party landscape. This study is grounded in the functional theory of political discourse analysis, with the aim of examining the evolution of the discursive strategies employed by candidates in face-to-face debates held in 2008, 2011, 2015, and 2023. The methodology is further comple-mented by discourse analysis techniques based on machine learning. The findings reveal a shift in the communicative patterns observed in earlier debates, with a notable increase in offensive strategies, particularly among the incumbent candidates. Moreover, there is a growing focus on personal issues related to the candidates, as well as on matters concerning party competition and the internal negotiations within ideological blocs, all of which have been accompanied by a rise in discursive toxicity. While contextual and structural factors are likely to continue shaping the development of future debates, recent encounters suggest an intensification of tensions and polarization.