According to Hugo Borst, it is obvious what needs to be done now that the lid has been lifted from the DWDD cover-up. He thinks that Matthijs van Nieuwkerk should take a course. “And Frans Klein? It has to come out.”
Hugo Borst could be seen for years as a table master in De Wereld Draait Door and in that capacity he says he never realized how extreme things were on the editorial floor. Extensive research by de Volkskrant shows that Matthijs van Nieuwkerk behaved there as a kind of psychopathic studio executioner.
‘French not tenable’
Dozens of employees have literally fallen ill because of Matthijs’s dictatorial behavior. The bizarre? NPO top boss Frans Klein, former media boss at BNNVARA, was warned several times, but never intervened. Strangely enough, his position at the NPO does not seem to be under discussion, while several people argue for his departure.
That Frans has to go, thinks Hugo. He says in the talk show Renze on Saturday: “When I have finished the story and I am initially flabbergasted, because I do not know Matthijs that way, then I think at first: suppose you translate it politically, then there will be a minister to. Yes, I think here: Frans Klein is of course no longer sustainable.”
Pretty scared
Hugo is shocked by all the revelations. “Yes, I do not recognize myself in the image. I have no doubt in its competence [Volkskrant-]trio, but it’s new to me. He’s never barked at me like that. In that case I would have barked back, but that is not the case for everyone. I am an independent person.”
He continues: “If it is true, and I have no doubt about it again, what you have uncovered in five months – and Matthijs has already apologized for that – then it is a hard blow. It is painful.”
anger course
There must be consequences, thinks Hugo. “Matthijs may have to do something about anger management, but I think Frans Klein is ultimately responsible. If several people have approached him and he has wanted to continue the extremely successful program under all circumstances, then this man has of course been seen.”
Does he think Frans is more responsible than Matthijs? “Initially Matthijs is primarily responsible and then the ministerial power comes around the corner. Matthijs must of course do something. I have no contact with him, so that is just a suggestion.”
No contact
Hugo has lost contact with Matthijs? “No, certainly not,” he says. Renze doesn’t ask why not.
Hugo does hope that Matthijs will come out better. “I have had that anger problem myself in the football field. I am therefore unrecognizable. I understand that a person can overdo himself under pressure or certain circumstances, because you cannot say that the Matthijs described here is the complete Matthijs. That is not true.”
What does Angela think?
Angela de Jong late in her column know that she also thinks that Frans should go. “If Frans Klein does not quickly resign as director of content, the NPO will lose its credibility completely.”
She continues: “President Frederieke Leeflang attaches great importance to a safe working environment, she said after the revelations about The Voice. Now it’s time to put words into action. Klein has let down the employees of DWDD (…) terribly.”
