Last night I was once again extremely annoyed by the way Fatma Taspinar (did not) lead the discussion in ‘De Afspraak’.
It reminded me of the time she received Bill White, ambassador of Trump's America. Bill White turned out to be a speech waterfall, or rather a speech avalanche, against which no dam was built. This time the waterfall was Mrs. Verstrepen, chairwoman of the Liga voor Mensenrechten.
I have led many meetings myself, not always with the easiest participants, and I always made sure that everyone could have their say on an equal footing. That means inviting shy people to give their opinion, and gently slowing down participants who want to take over the conversation, and not allowing people to interrupt or obstruct one another. Basic knowledge, take it from me, you don't need to be a journalist to know that.
Mrs. Taspinar can't do that. Yesterday she let Mrs. Verstrepen have her way, and she took unrestrained possession of the conversation. Her opponent was nonetheless not just anyone, and certainly no timid little boy: Jean-Marie De Decker, in person. While Mr. De Decker still tried to listen to what others were saying, that was asking too much of Mrs. Verstrepen: she kept rattling on while others were speaking.
And Fatma Taspinar let it happen.
Where on earth has Bart Schols gone: Bart, come back!
And as for Mrs. Verstrepen: isn't it a human right to be able to give your opinion too, without being constantly interrupted? Or was it because she had no answer to Mr. De Decker's pointed questions?
(De Afspraak on 12/11/26, VRTMax)