Geert Wilders is the only party leader of a major political party who does not allow himself to be interviewed by the dreaded Nieuwsuur in the run-up to the elections. “He made a calculation.”
In the run-up to the elections, Nieuwsuur is once again presenting a series of spicy political interviews by presenters Mariëlle Tweebeeke and Jeroen Wollaars. The broadcasts are live, with an audience and often controversial, so they are important. Nine parties have been invited based on the number of current parliamentary seats and the forecasts in the Peilingwijzer.
Wilders is not coming
Eight parties have confirmed their participation. “The PVV was also invited, but the largest party in the House of Representatives and in the polls has informed Nieuwsuur that it will not accept the invitation,” said Nieuwsuur.
Joost Eerdmans will kick off on October 14, followed by Caroline van der Plas, Rob Jetten, Jimmy Dijk, Henri Bontenbal, Frans Timmermans, Dilan Yesilgöz and Eddy van Hijum. Geert Wilders was scheduled last – and therefore closest to the elections – on October 24, but he skipped the invitation.
It’s striking
Telegraaf presenter Pim Sedee mentions it in the podcast Hammering away ‘remarkable’. “He did it last time.”
Political journalist Wouter de Winther then says: “Yes, he has made a calculation that I think things are going well enough with the PVV and that there is not much to gain for him at Nieuwsuur.”
‘Why should I?’
Other parties also make their calculations this way, according to Wouter. “Yes, that is something that also seems to be of concern to other parties, because Nieuwsuur of course has the journalistic task – that is how they experience it – to make it as difficult and substantively difficult for the party leaders as possible. That is very different from a talk show setting or a VI setting.”
“Wilders thinks: yes, why should I, my voters are not there and if they are there, then I might not come out well, so why would I go there?”
Broadcast schedule
Nieuwsuur’s broadcast schedule:
- October 14 JA21 – Joost Eerdmans
- October 15 BBB – Caroline van der Plas
- October 16 D66 – Rob Jetten
- October 17 SP – Jimmy Dijk
- October 20 CDA – Henri Bontenbal
- October 21 GL-PvdA – Frans Timmermans
- October 22 VVD – Dilan Yesilgöz
- October 23 NSC – Eddy van Hijum