Mona Keijzer is in the race for the presentation of the poorly viewed HLF8. Doubtful, says Op1 face Thomas van Groningen. He suggests it could be a return favor from Talpa.
A lot of names have already passed by of possible new presenters of HLF8, but that of former CDA star Mona Keijzer is very striking. She has a lot of experience as a politician, but no experience as a talk show host. It produces mixed reactions, but Op1 face Thomas van Groningen is especially very critical.
Pure or not?
Thomas wonders if this is completely pure. “Good to know: Mona Keijzer, as State Secretary, extended the FM frequencies of commercial radio stations, which is very important for Talpa. (The judge later ruled that out),” he tweeted.
What is he suggesting here? “Keijzer was fired from the cabinet in September 2021. That would mean that within the (then non-existent) two-year cooling-off period, she would join a company that actively lobbied her when she was still a secretary of state.”
Cooling off period
Mona is lucky that she still falls under the old rules, says Thomas. “The cooling-off period did not exist at the time, it was only proposed later.”
Thomas subtly points out that the cooling-off period was not for nothing. He quotes: “A two-year cooling-off period in which former ministers must ask for advice on the admissibility of a successor position prevents (the appearance of) a conflict of interest.”
Talitha syndrome
Quote editor Martijn Zeven thinks it’s a poor choice. “It’s hilarious that Hilversum is so panicked that anyone who has said something nice or open or sympathetic three times as a guest in a talk show is immediately taken into account as a host. The Talitha Muusse Syndrome. And everyone knows how that ended…”
Talitha herself responds: “Except that being a host has been my professional job for years ?.”
Martijn: “Sporty response. Sincerely. But I think chairing the day is something different from being a talk show host. That’s just a craft and people sometimes forget that. That’s more my point.”
Investigative journalist Kim van Keken reacts cynically. “I also see something in Hugo de Jonge as a talk show host,” she says.
What does Sam think?
What does political reporter Sam Hagens think? He is also very eager to present HLF8. “It is not yet clear whether I will do it. I also really want to walk around The Hague. I have no idea when it will become clear,” he said in De Oranjewinter yesterday evening.
Table guest Britt Dekker: “I also like her, but I think you have both taken the test and now it’s the battle: who will it be?”
Sam has no opinion about a CDA prominent becoming his colleague at HLF8: “I don’t know. Yes, I think it can. I find it a bit uncomfortable to say all about it here. I don’t know.”
