After his fierce criticism of Frans Timmermans, Rutger Castricum is strongly reprimanded by Mark Koster and Tim Hofman. “Does he work for free at Today Inside? What a hypocritical populist!”
Frans Timmermans returns to Dutch politics to lead the leftist bloc of PvdA and GroenLinks. Now it appears that the politician will campaign at the expense of the European taxpayer: he will use a generous Brussels redundancy pay scheme. And that has been judged scathingly in the hit talk show Today Inside.
TV official Rutger
Regular VI guest Rutger Castricum is ashamed of it. He thinks that Timmermans should distance himself from the Brussels barrels. “He will keep three hundred thousand euros until the elections and then he will see what salary he will receive. If that is a Chamber salary, he will receive a ton and it will be supplemented. Two years!”
This is just populist chatter, says media journalist Mark Koster. Yvonne Coldeweijer’s podcast colleague sneered X: “The fact that TV official R. Castricum (Ministry of PowNed) criticizes Frans Timmermans for not campaigning for free is crazy. Does Rutger work for free at VI?”
‘hypocritical populist’
In the end, Rutger is just exactly the same, Mark thinks. “He also campaigns for himself and even receives money. Hypocritical populist.”
Then one Jim says: “The difference is that Rutger does not fight for poverty. And Timmermans does. Comparing apples to oranges.”
Mark: “Why should people fighting poverty also be poor themselves? There is a lot to criticize about Timmermans, but this argument is not very strong, in my opinion.”
Tim also critical
BNNVARA star Tim Hofman also thinks the criticism of Timmermans is unjustified. “Just read that Frans Timmermans earns money 😔”, he writes cynically in a now deleted message on X. “Rich people should NOT worry about someone else’s well-being. 😠”
Writer Bob Dijkgraaf on this: “This is of course really a caricature of reasonably justified criticism.”
Tim: “Yes, it is a lot of money, yes. I don’t know if I think he should not take it (I think so, leave himself) or that Brussels should adjust the rules.”
System Critical
Bob: “System criticism and criticism of the person are both possible. Anyway: criticism. Nice man.”
Tim: “Yes, anyway. I am also not averse to criticism of Timmermans, just had to laugh at the tweets about him.”
Bob: “Laughing: nice too.”
Tim: “Agree.”