Humberto Tan was very critical of Wopke Hoekstra in his talk show last night. He believes that the politician is falling through the cracks when it comes to his credibility. “Chameleon!”
There is a nice, lucrative job on the horizon for Wopke Hoekstra. He wants to become European Commissioner, but he still has to jump through several hoops to do so. In this way he must win the confidence of the European Parliament. During his public application yesterday, he showed his greenest side.
Humberto bewildered
Humberto Tan was remarkably critical of this last night talk show on RTL 4. “Wopke Hoekstra has just been interrogated by the European Parliament for three hours. It was a tough interrogation, especially because it was noticeable that Hoekstra has become something of a supporter of Extinction Rebellion. Greener than green.”
His political chief Elodie Verweij: “I did not expect Wopke Hoekstra’s über transformation.”
Humberto: “Just… He wasn’t really the greenest politician in the Netherlands. Not at all, right? But then I read everything he said and I think: huh?! Is that the same Hoekstra?! Tax on flying, end of fossil subsidies… What happened to him?!”
Green Wopke
Elodie answers. “What I think you see is that he has been fighting very hard for his own new job.”
Humberto is indignant: “Then you are not fighting for your principles but for a job?!”
Elodie: “Wopke Hoekstra has perhaps done that before. That in itself is not surprising for him, but what is striking is that as Mister KLM – perhaps you remember, he saved KLM and invested hundreds of millions as a Dutch state in that company – now suddenly wants to levy taxes on kerosene.”
Mr. No
Wopke also worked at Shell, according to Elodie. “And now he says: ‘We must abolish fossil fuels!’ He was really known as ‘Mr. No’ and now he says: ‘You know what’s really important? We have to give a lot of money to the climate!’”
Humberto believes that Wopke’s credibility is under pressure. “Reduce CO2 emissions in Europe by 90 percent. Anyone who stands for the climate… There is nothing wrong with the ambition, but it does not suit the man…”
Left cabinet
Elodie also has her doubts. “He was completely against a left-wing cabinet, remember that? He did not want PvdA and GroenLinks in the cabinet at all. Now suddenly it’s a different man. There is a Brussels Wopke Hoekstra and a Hague Wopke Hoekstra. He is also a former consultant. Is he doing this because he knows people want to hear this?”
The implacable Humberto answers: “Yes. I haven’t spoken to him, but that’s my suspicion. (…) He goes to Europe and suddenly thinks: oh, no, actually what Extinction Rebellion wants, I want that too, I fully support that! (…) He is an even greater chameleon than the chameleon itself.”