Thomas van Groningen arouses the anger of right-wing TV viewers. They believe that Lidewij de Vos was questioned too critically by him in News of the Day. “It looks like Eva Jinek!”, is the criticism.
Lidewij de Vos, the chairman of the Forum for Democracy, was a guest last night News of the Daythe right-wing TV news from SBS 6. Presenter Thomas van Groningen questioned the politician quite critically about the presence of candidates on the electoral list who were also active in extreme right-wing organizations.
Thomas critical
In three municipalities, parties already say they are boycotting the local Forum faction. “If we have a candidate on the list who, for example, was a member of a club referred to as extreme right-wing in the past and who advocates an almost completely white Europe, what should we do with that?”, says Thomas.
Lidewij thinks it’s old news. “In all cases it is at least ten years ago and there have been statements in private chats, sometimes jokes and things that I do not agree with, but in all cases it was a long time ago. I also said about those statements and involvement: ‘Those organizations, Forum has nothing to do with them.'”
Keep going
It is nonsense that this is happening again, says Lidewij. “I’m sitting here now. This has been going on for a month now. You apparently think it’s necessary to start talking about it again, but like I said: it should actually be about the major problems facing the Netherlands.”
Thomas: “You can’t start that either, because no one wants to work with you, because this will continue to fester.”
What does Bram think?
Bram Moszkowicz finds Lidewij clumsy. “I think highly of you, let that be clear, and also respect what you have done for the Forum, and a large part of its ideas, I can live with that. I cannot live with those apps that have been placed there. What I would like to ask you, and that is to help you clarify it…”
“…Have you ever thought about sitting one-on-one with the people who sent those texts? To say, ‘I don’t support it,’ and, ‘That’s not possible, what you did.’ And whether they individually, because there are quite a few who are also quite high on the list, want to take that back.”
Crystal clear
According to Lidewij, this is not necessary and it is a ‘crystal clear story’. Studio guest Victor Vlam: “No, it is not crystal clear. One of the problems I see in this is that it does not happen once or twice, but very often. I have the same view as Bram: I think Forum is quite high, but (…) I think it is a shame that these kinds of things keep happening.”
Irritation is increasing among the Forum leader. “I have been invited here to talk about the municipal elections and I think we have almost run out of space, so maybe we can talk about that for a while. Do you know what is at stake on March 18? That everyone will have an asylum center in their backyard!”, Lidewij shouts.
Fake dogs
At the end of the broadcast, Victor comes out as a potential Forum voter. “I would consider it in certain circumstances, but I will also say immediately: if I were to say now that I would vote for Forum, I would almost be cancelled.”
Despite the Forum attitude of at least two studio guests, viewers of News of the Day reacted furiously. “Last week Victor Vlam and Thomas van Groningen were still slithering like wagging dogs at Mona Keijzer, but in front of Lidewij they suddenly turn into growling false dogs. This selective aggression is laughable,” it sounds.
Thomas or Eva?
The News of the Day viewers are really going crazy on the socials. “Are Thomas van Groningen and Eva Jinek related? They can both go on and on,” says someone.
Another: “Thomas van Groningen lost all his built-up credit in one episode of News of the Day by acting as Eva Jinek, by constantly harping on about ancient outdated apps.”
Finally, a certain Mike: “Thomas wants to score!!! Thomas is not neutral, he is more false than false!!!!”
