On March 6, 2002, Pim Fortuyn, as leader of Leefbaar Rotterdam, achieved a resounding victory in the municipal elections in the city on the Maas. Nationally, Fortuyn would instantly secure eighteen parliamentary seats; the political landscape had been permanently changed by him. March 6, 2002, concluded with a now-historic television debate between Pim Fortuyn and Ad Melkert, among others, moderated by Paul Witteman. What exactly happened behind the scenes surrounding the key players Fortuyn and Melkert? Confidants of the leading figures of that time tell their story. Moderator Paul Witteman also looks back on the debate.
Pieter Jan Hagens
Paul Witteman
Jack de Vries
João Varela
Marco Pastors
Bram Peper
Ronald Sørensen
Susan Baart
Philip van Veller
Jan 't Hooft
Jaap Roepius
Dries Mosch
Eva Kuit
Ruud Koole
Pim Fortuyn
Ad Melkert
Jan Peter Balkenende
Paul Rosenmöller
Hans Dijkstal
Thom de Graaf
Ivo Opstelten
Wim Kok
Henk van Dorp
Rob Trip