Geert Wilders has harshly dissed his right-wing conservative friends from Today Inside: he ignored several requests from the editors to provide clarity. “It’s really a big mistake.”
Geert Wilders’ PVV is still the largest party in the polls and with the elections in sight, he is taking as little risk as possible. He halted his election campaign last week, officially because a number of men were arrested in Belgium who, among other things, wanted to attack Wilders. According to the NCTV, there is no residual threat.
Put a ring on it
Wilfred Genee is annoyed that no one from Wilders’ team wanted to indicate whether or not he would join VI on Friday evening. “We still haven’t been able to get in touch with him. So we don’t know whether he will come on Friday or not, but in this situation, as he has completely pulled himself off the stage…”, he says in the VI from last night.
Colleague René van der Gijp points out that it is the day after the Golden Televizier-Ring Gala, for which VI is the biggest contender. “Can’t we just let him wear that ring for a while? Just for a little while.”
Very big mistake
Table guest Job Knoester thinks Wilders is unwise. “I think Wilders is making a very big mistake. I think it’s terrible that he has had to live with such security for so long, so that is paramount, but at the same time: if you want to be a leader of a country, you have to be able to stand there in the most difficult times.”
There are plenty of political leaders who are in hot water, according to Job. “Zelensky does it, Trump is almost shot but he just stands there again, but Wilders ducks away.”
Not afraid
Johan Derksen thinks that Wilders is simply lying about his media break. “Yes, but he is not gone because he is afraid, because he is not afraid of three Belgians who have already been arrested. He stayed away for tactical reasons, because the entire club was completely tight. They wanted to dive on top of him and they now have to fend for themselves.”
René: “This just suited him.”
Job: “Yes, but if that’s true, because quite a lot of people think so, then he’s just lying.”
Runaway
Wilfred thinks that Wilders has no interest in TV debates. “All parties will then shout at him that he is a runaway.”
Job: “Yes, but he is actually doing that for the third time now.”
Johan concludes: “Yes, it is a runaway.”
Update 7:30 am
Wilders announced early in the morning that he will resume his campaign. “I am going back to work and will be present until the elections at: Today Inside, Telegraaf, SBS 6 debate, Debate van het Zuiden, Jeugdjournaal, EenVandaag debate, the NOS Slotdebat and Radio 538.”