Thomas van Groningen, Op1’s political analyst, is under serious fire because of his millionaire question to Frans Timmermans. “Who cares whether that man is a millionaire and where he lives?”
Frans Timmermans has put an end to the rumours: he will in any case continue to receive his Brussels salary of three hundred thousand euros per year until the elections, but the new leader of PvdA-GroenLinks will not use the redundancy pay scheme to increase his salary if he will soon have a job in the Netherlands with a salary below €300,000.
French answers
It does chafe, says Op1 star Thomas van Groningen. He said in the Tuesday talk show: “The discussion about that huge salary is then held and then I heard him say: ‘I’m not a millionaire’, but if you start calculating a bit… Anyway, there was some discussion and discomfort about that high salary that he has earned.”
In a report, Frans says to the reporter: “That income that comes in is also spent again if you have to maintain two homes and have a family.”
Thomas then: “Did you have such expensive houses then?”
Millionaire question
Yes, Frans replies. “The rents in Brussels are not low, but apart from that: I earned a very, very high salary as a European Commissioner, that’s right.”
Thomas then: “Surely your assets are now over a million? Yes, it’s a bit silly to bring it up, but since you said so emphatically that you’re not a millionaire, I thought, I’ll get to that.”
Frans: “I’m really not. It’s honestly not me, unless you look at the house we bought that has a mortgage on it. Yes, that’s a million, but it’s in the house and not in my bank account. I honestly am not.”
Large terraced house
Thomas is skeptical. “Is that the typical house of a social democrat?”
Frans: “Eh, it’s a very large terraced house in Maastricht. That’s it, yes.”
Thomas has a hard time with it, he tells the Op1 table afterwards. “It is legal, but it is still uncomfortable if you come up with a story about social security and poverty.”
And critics are having trouble with Thomas again. “Who cares whether that man is a millionaire and where he lives? (…) You can be perfectly left-wing and want to arrange things better for your neighbor and not go over corpses for euros”, Tim Hofman snarls X.
“Then don’t ask!”
Tim is annoyed with Thomas. “Then asking that question: ‘Maybe a little lame, but…’ Hahaha. Yeah, don’t ask that question if you think it’s lame? Or own just do it, think it’s important, and ask the question. Not this cowardly intro. Politicians do not deserve this anointing just before a difficult question either.”
Incidentally, Tim thinks it’s a crazy story from Frans. “He says: not a million in the bank. But that’s not how you calculate power. You may think that a social democrat knows that, and therefore also how he is going to tax the wealthy.”
Former RTL journalist Roel Geeraedts points out all the problems in our country. “But hey Thomas van Groningen, ask if Timmermans is a millionaire because that is what people care most about.”
‘Relevant’
RTL Boulevard star Rob Goossens does think Thomas’s question is relevant. “He was a European Commissioner for nine years and had nice positions in Dutch politics for fifteen years – good salaries and too little time to spend it. If he’s not a millionaire, he’s either given a lot away (positive) or he can’t handle money (negative). So yes, I think it is relevant.”
And former Op1 hysteric Talitha Muusse: “There is nothing wrong with the criticism of Timmermans’ redundancy pay. If you are in favor of taxing millionaires more heavily, limiting top incomes and bonuses, you must also show the right exemplary behavior. It’s all about content.”
Response
Thomas has here responded to Roel and below to Tim: