A lot was expected, but due to the absence of Geert Wilders it was a bit disappointing: the first TV debate was not on RTL 4 last night. game changer. “And that commercial? Too much!“
According to some, it is a tactic: Geert Wilders did not show up for the first major TV debate yesterday. He is said to have been the target of the terrorist cell that planned an attack on the Belgian Prime Minister, but according to NCTV there is no ‘residual threat’. RTL offered him to hold the debate in the highly secured House of Representatives, but he did not want to.
‘Better JA21’
Frans Timmermans (GroenLinks-PvdA), Henri Bontenbal (CDA) and Dilan Yesilgöz (VVD) were therefore unable to cross swords with the PVV leader yesterday on RTL 4, but only with his replacement Rob Jetten of D66.
It was all very toothless, says TV critic Victor Vlam. He writes down X: “For the content, it would have been better if JA21 took Wilders’ place in the RTL debate, and not D66. The right-wing conservative bloc is not represented despite being politically very powerful.”
Game changer
Victor missed Wilders at the debate. “It’s striking how little Wilders’ name is mentioned tonight. I think some party leaders enjoyed not having to share the spotlight with him for once.”
Due to the politician’s absence, it was all quite predictable, the media expert believes. “It was a relatively friendly debate. Largely a repetition of well-known positions. None game changer.”
Too much advertising
All in all, Victor didn’t really enjoy it. “The RTL debate would also have been better without all those long commercial breaks. Four in total. That takes the momentum out of the debate. Yes, RTL is commercial. But there is also something to be said for being of service to society during election times.”
What did he like? “Fons Lambie is an excellent debate leader. Keeps order without putting himself too much in the foreground.”