While the perception processes and effects of political TV duels at the (sub-)national level have been examined in great detail, studies with a similar scope of analytical profoundness and detail for TV duels at the European level are largely lacking . Therefore, the perceptions and effects of the duel between Manfred Weber (EVP) and Frans Timmermans (S&D) on the perception of the debate's winner, the attitudes towards the candidates and voting intentions under consideration of the real-time

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... ctions (RTR) of its viewers are analysed . In addition to the duel's general perception, one can identify the determinants of the verdicts on the debate's winner, the candidate evaluations including their images as well as the voting intentions of our study participants and show that the debate's reception has significant effects . Aside from political predispositions, it is primarily the immediate perception during the debate, captured by real-time-response measurement that possesses great explanatory power . The data verify that the duel's reception at the European level has significant effects on political cognitions, motivations, and audiences' attitudes and therefore can be regarded as an effective instrument in European election campaigns . Such duels have the potential to contribute to the strengthening of the democratic quality of the European Union . [ZParl, vol . 50 (2019), no . 4, pp . 736 - 753]