After a possible tactical break at the start of the election campaign, Geert Wilders now resumes his activities with a major appearance in Today Inside. Is he aping Mark Rutte’s trick?
After a number of canceled debates and media appearances, Geert Wilders is back. With almost two weeks to go until the elections, the PVV leader must also make an appearance. Tonight he chooses the much-viewed stage of Today Inside. All eyes of political watchers are focused on the program: will it be as weak as with Frans Timmermans?
In overdrive?
There is plenty to ask Wilders, who is rarely interviewed, so expectations are high. Wilfred Genee has not really been in good shape lately, as was evident from the show with Timmermans, so things could be disappointing. Or he just goes into the overdrive to prove themselves, but the VI supporters will not like that.
CDA leader Henri Bontenbal believes that Wilders should be put to the test. He thinks it is undemocratic that the PVV leader cancels so many interviews. “He had also canceled several debates and interviews before Friday. And we also know from the past that the PVV regularly cancels things. I don’t think that is very democratic,” he says. BNR.
Rutte trick?
Wilders is very concerned that this performance at VI will be successful. Will he use former Prime Minister Mark Rutte’s trick? “He was dealt with quite firmly, but he also came out of it well,” says Jan Hillenius, editor-in-chief of the program until last year, in the A.D.
How did Rutte do that? “The danger is that pleasant conversations arise behind the scenes. Johan is always there early and you can have a nice chat with him. The result is often that Johan still thinks you are ‘a very nice guy’.”
Forty-five minutes
Rutte managed to win over Johan very cleverly, says Jan. “We always tried, apart from saying hello, to have as little contact as possible before the broadcast. This usually worked, except with Mark Rutte, who clearly saw that the most profit could be achieved in the 45 minutes before the show.”
The former prime minister took the sting out of it by walking around and chatting with everyone. “Then it is difficult for even the biggest critics not to go along with that.”