In the interview with Rick Nieman in December last year, Omtzigt walked away after a question about his reportedly emotional behavior during the formation negotiations. The politician did not come to an answer and asked the interview, which was recorded in advance, to stop. He became visibly irritated when Nieman asked why it was necessary. Omtzigt then walked away, but returned a little later and then continued the conversation again.
According to the jury, the moment was “not only television technically impressive,” but “it later also turned out to be symbolic for the decline of his party NSC and for Omtzigts departure as a political figurehead a few months later”.
‘Rick Nieman showed guts’
Flame mainly praises the role of Nieman in this. “Rick Nieman showed guts by sending out the extremely uncomfortable walking away of Omtzigt, knowing that he would get criticism. But he rightly considered that it was the honest picture of Omtzigt. Everyone talked about it in the days after.”