In this section, political reporter Edo van der Goot writes every week about what strikes him in The Hague. This week: PVV leader Geert Wilders, who also does not answer during election time.
“For the time being, the only result of the cabinet trap that the PVV is excluded by even more parties. What do your voters have about it?” “Why do you see the substantive concerns of other parties as opposing?” “How are you going to help Cindy from Zaandam?”
These were just some questions that I had already written down for an interview with PVV leader Geert Wilders. Because as always in campaign time, the political editors of NU.nl speak the most important party leaders and we are fully engaged in tig other election stories.
I could have saved that effort. Last week I received a short bell. “We have to reject your offer for an interview unfortunately.” I did not get any further explanation from Hidde Heutink, MP and campaign leader of the PVV.
That was a disappointment. Not for me, but for the three million daily visitors to NU.nl. I want to be able to question Wilders on their behalf about his party program, about trade in the center of power for the sidelines again and about many other things that made so tumultuous in The Hague in the past two years. Simply, a critical interview, as I try with every party I speak to.
‘You don’t have to be nice to us, we will come anyway’
Wilders, as is now known, you don’t get as easy to speak as a journalist. There are times; For example, he has to go to the plenary room every Tuesday afternoon to vote. That is a possibility to ask him some questions.
But there the entire Dutch parliamentary press is waiting for him. You don’t get much time. If Wilders gets a question there that he doesn’t like, he simply looks at the next reporter. That is accompanied by a sneer towards the in his eyes too critical journalist.
“He creates scarcity and that is why he gets a friendlier treatment by the journalists than when he breaks through that scarcity,” a party leader once told me. “You don’t have to be nice to us, we will come anyway.” I don’t know if that is the case, but anyway: scarcity is power.
Just turn to the secure PVV port
What can you do about that? I can still remember the 2017 campaign. The PVV was at the top of the polls, interspersed with the VVD of Mark Rutte. Even up to a few weeks before the elections on March 15, the party of Wilders was virtually at the top. The PVV had never become the largest party at that time.
Nu.nl spoke all protagonists at that time. Only an interview with Wilders was not yet in the agenda. A conversation with the leader of the possibly largest party was of course a must. I made an attempt, but I didn’t even get the spokesperson. I had the song, but Sebastian Kruis – now MEP for the PVV – simply did not record and did not answer any apps.
At a certain point I went to the PVV part in the room myself. You can’t just enter it like other parties because of the security. There are closed doors with cameras. I rang the bell. Some security guards opened open and asked surprised what I came to do. “I want to speak Geert Wilders. The spokesperson does not answer his phone, so I’ll try it that way.”
Five minutes later I received an app from Sebastian Kruis. He would contact me, he wrote. That never happened.
Other parties also sometimes refuse interviews
In 2021 the PVV seemed a bit more spit. An interview is best, I was told. But immediately requirements were set for the publication date. That was quite far before the elections. I also had a maximum of half an hour with Wilders.
That was inconsistent with our principles. As editors, we determine when we put something online. And with half an hour you can ask a few times and then the time is finished again. So too little. Negotiating turned out not to be an option, so this interview was canceled either.
Incidentally, an interview with VVD leader Mark Rutte was also stopped by the Information Department that year. Even without any explanation. So this is not just a problem at the PVV.
In the last elections, the Luiks at the PVV suddenly opened. Wilders wanted to go to the center of power. “Now more than ever,” he said in an interview with us. This time it was successful.
A really open debate is missing
That is that it stays with that. Wilders rarely gives interviews. He chooses the media in which he wants to appear picky. “I never go to those terrible left -wing nonsense programs and shows on TV,” he recently wrote on X. Yet from all the leaders he is the most mentioned in those shows, according to a monitoring by De Groene Amsterdammer .
He therefore has no interest in it. The scarcity pays off, and that is actually quite problematic. You simply give less accountability to voters.
A message on X without contradiction is not the same as accountability. Or explain how you want to deliver on promises. The party program of the PVV has also not been calculated for years by the Central Planning Bureau.
Simply put: Wilders does not tolerate contradiction. Not inside and not outside his party. With that you kill the debate.
In This Section, Political Reporter Edo van der Goot Writes Weekly about what he notices in the Hague. This week: PVV Leader Geert Wilders, who does not account for hisself Even Duration Election Time.
“For the time being, the only result of the fall of the cabinet is that the pvv has excluded by even more parties. What do your voters gain from this?” “Why do you see substantive groups from other parties as obstruction?” “How are you going to help cindy from zaandam now?”
These were just some questions I had already written down for an interview with PVV Leader Geert Wilders. Because as always king campaign season, the political editors of nu.nl speak to the most important party leaders, and we are fully engaged in Countless Other Election Stories.
I Could Have Saved Myself the Effort. Last week, I recedived a short call. “We unfortunately have to decline your sacrifice for an interview.” I Received No Further Explanation from Hidde Heutink, Member of Parliament and Campaign Manager for the PVV.
That was a disappointment. Not for me, but for the three million daily visits to nu.nl. I want to be able to question Wilders on Their Behalf about his party platform, about Trading the Center of Power for the Sidelines Again, and about Countless other things that have made the past Two years so tumultuous in the hague. Just a critical interview, as I try to do with every party leader I speak to.
‘You Don’t Have To Be Nice to Us, We’ll Come Anyway’
As is now well known, Wilders is not so easy to speak to as a journalist. There are moments; for example, he has to go to the plenary hall every Tuesday afternoon to vote. That is an opportunity to ask him a few short questions.
But the Entire Dutch Parliamentary Press is Waiting for Him there. You don’t get much time. If Wilders Gets A Question There That He Doesn’t Like, He Simply Looks At The Next Reporter. This may or may not be accompanied by a sneer Towards the journalist Who is too critical in his eyes.
“He creates Scarcity and Therefore Receives Friendlier Treatment from Journalists than if he breaks that Scarcity,” A Group Chairman Once Said to Me. “You don’t have to be nice to us, we’ll come anyway.” I don’t know if that’s the case, but in any case, scarcity is power.
Just Knock on the Secured PVV Gate Yourself
What can you do about that? I CAN Still Remember the 2017 Campaign. The PVV was at the top of the polls for a long time, alternating with mark rutte’s vvd. Even Until a Few Week Before the Elections on March 15, Wilders’ Party was Virtualy at the Top. The PVV never had the Largest Party Before.
Nu.nl Spoke to All the Main Players at That Time. Only an interview with Wilders was not yet on the agenda. A conversation with the leader of the potentialy Largest party was of course a must. I made an attempt, but couldn’t Get hold of the spokesperson. I had The Number, But Sebastian Kruis – Now a Member of the European Parliament for the PVV – Simply Didn’t Answer and Didn’t Respond to Any Apps.
At One Point, I Just Went To The PVV Section In The House Myself. You can’t just walk in there like you can with other parties, because of security. There are closed doors with cameras. I rank the bell. Some Security Guards opened the by and Asked in Surprise What I had come to do. “I want to speak to Geert Wilders. The Spokesperson isn’t Answering his Phone, so I’m just trying it this way.”
Five minutes later, I recedived an app from Sebastian Kruis. He would contact me, it wrote. That never happened.
Other Parties also Sometimes Refuse interviews
In 2021, The PVV Seemed SLIGHTLY MORE FORthComing. An interview is definitely Possible, I was told. But Requirements Were immediately set for the publication date. That was QUITE A LONG TIME BEFORE THE ELECTIONS. I also had a maximum of half an hour with Wilders.
That was not in line with our principles. We as editors decide when we put something online. And with half an hour you can ask a few follow-up questions and then the time is already up. So Not Enough. Negotiation Turned out not to be option, so this interview also did not go ahead.
Incidentally, an interview with VVD Leader Mark Rutte was also blocked by the information department that year. Also without any explanation. So this is not only a problem with the pvv.
Duration the Last Elections, The Hatches at the PVV Suddenly Opened. Wilders Wanted to Go to the Center of Power. “Now more than ever,” he said in an interview with us. This time it had worked.
A Truly Open Debate is Lacking
That’s where it ends. Wilders Rarely Gives interviews. He selectively Chooses the Media in which hey to Appear. “I never go to those terrible leftist nonsense programs and shows on TV,” he recently wrote on X. yet he is the most frequently mentioned of all party leaders in those shows, accordance to monitoring by the Groene Amsterdammer .
So he has no interest in it either. The Scarcity Pays Off, and That is Actually QUITE PROBLEMATIC. You Simply Account for Less Responsibility to the Voters.
A Message on X Without Contradiction is not the same as accounting for responsibility. Or explaining exactly how you want to make promises come true. The PVV’s Party Platform has also not leg calculated by the central planning agency for years.
Simply Put: Wilders Tolerates No Contradiction. Not within and not outside his party. This kills the debate.