Anyone who thought that Geert Wilders can only laugh with Arlette Adriani on television has not yet seen him on Shownieuws. He also likes Tooske Ragas. “Hahaha!”
The party leaders of the national parties always turn into a kind of Henny Huisman during election times; say ‘yes’ to absolutely every TV invitation that comes along. Even Show news, where people normally talk about André Hazes Jr. and Monique Westenberg, will be visited. Last night it was Geert Wilders’ turn.
Sleep hobby
The most important topic at the table? To sleep. “I understood that you and I share a hobby, namely sleeping,” begins presenter Tooske Ragas.
Wilders agrees: “Yes. Also mine. You probably also don’t sleep enough and that is why it is your hobby. At least, that’s why it’s my hobby.”
Tooske: “Oh no, I’ve just loved it my whole life.”
Wilders: “I love it too, but I don’t sleep enough.”
Extra coffee
Tooske is immediately concerned. “Will it work? Because it’s quite late tonight now. Should we get extra coffee?”
Wilders: “Of course. It’ll work. It’s campaign time, so that also gives you energy. That’s also a lot of fun to do.”
Story boss Guido den Aantrekker then goes into depth: “But how many hours do you sleep, Mr. Wilders, per night?”
Wilders: “Five hours, sometimes six, sometimes four. Average about five. And that’s not long. I usually get up early. I’m not someone who goes to bed early either, but I do try to catch up on sleep on the weekends. It’s not a disaster, but if you ask: what is my biggest hobby? Then it’s sleeping with me.”
‘Hahahaha’
Tooske then comes up with an anecdote about her most recent parents’ evening, where each child had to write something about his or her parents. “Everyone got it laminated and ours said: ‘My mom prefers to be in bed.’ Hahahaha.”
Wilders finds it very funny and starts laughing a lot: “Hahahaha.”
Everyone is having a great time in the studio. Then it concerns Wilders’ private life. How is his wife? “We try, as best we can, to do fun things from time to time and to eat or go somewhere or something.”
Nothing spontaneous
Security always accompanies Wilders. “Nothing can be done spontaneously, but a lot is possible. I shouldn’t pretend that nothing is possible, but there are all kinds of conditions and people around you that you would normally not invite to dinner. But it is possible and they make a lot possible and I am grateful for that.”
Table guest Bram Moszkowicz would like to emphasize that he knows Wilders very well: “I can still remember that you and I had dinner in Amsterdam to celebrate the acquittal.”
Wilders: “I remember that, indeed. That was very nice.”
Staff
Did Bram last until the end or did he have to be pulled out of the broom cupboard afterwards? Wilders exclaims: “There were two of my employees sitting on your lap at the time, do you remember that? I still have a photo of it.”
Finally, about his personal bond with outgoing Prime Minister Mark Rutte: “Not a beer, but we sometimes have contact by app or text message. I also had something to eat with him in the Torentje a few years ago and so on, but hey, I have of course also been opposition leader in recent years and then that becomes a bit less.”
There was no mention of Wilders’ cats.