Thought-provoking: Co-habiting Trump and Biden over a weekend - a potential European TV show hit.
The show, titled "The Conclave," is a four-episode series that has enthralled people in Belgium. It's not like a political version of "The Bachelor," but rather more akin to "The Real World" on MTV.
In this show, political leaders from the seven major parties in Belgium, ranging from far right to far left, including the current prime minister, spent a weekend together at a castle. They engaged in various activities like cooking, going for walks in the woods, and of course, debating political issues. The participants shared their innermost political thoughts in a confessional for the viewers. The program aired before Belgium's national elections, held simultaneously with the elections for the European Union Parliament.
According to the Dutch-language "The Conclave" website, the purpose of the show was to give the audience a glimpse into the politicians' beliefs and agendas. During the show, Tom Van Grieken, the head of the far-right, secessionist Vlaams Belang party, joked, "Yes, with these 'woke' books that I want to ban." This remark caught attention because his party, which opposes immigration and is known for not respecting democracy, is expected to gain more power after the elections.
The far-right party, Vlaams Belang, has a significant influence in Belgian politics due to its anti-immigrant stance. A rising political force in the country, it's projected to be the largest party with around 26% of Flemish votes after the balloting.
There were moments of real politics in this show as well. One of them was when Bart De Wever, the leader of a conservative Flemish nationalist party, declared he would not form a coalition with Van Grieken's party, even if he got the required seats, saying, "I can't partner with someone who doesn't respect democracy. Sorry, that's quite fundamental." This was important because Van Grieken's party was doing well in the polls and if De Wever's party joined in coalition with him, it would boost Van Grieken's separatist agenda, aiming to create a new country separate from the more ethnically diverse and left-leaning southern region of Belgium known as Wallonia.
If Belgians' opinions about what they saw on "The Conclave" had any role in Vlaams Belang's overwhelming success in the recent elections, a similar show in the US with Biden and Trump participating could help voters make decisions ahead of the US presidential elections in November.
Interest in this year's presidential election is at its lowest in 20 years if we compare it with other presidential election cycles. What better way to generate public interest and shake things up than having both candidates spend a weekend together with cameras capturing their interactions? This would benefit both Biden and Trump, although his experience as a reality show host on "The Apprentice" might give Trump an edge. However, this setting would present an opportunity for Biden to dispel doubts about his age and mental fitness.
Imagine Biden and Trump living together, taking part in shared activities such as cooking and talking politics. This would be an excellent chance for them to support their political agendas in front of the public.
The popularity of a US version of "The Conclave" remains to be seen, but the prospect is certainly exciting. Both candidates would have the perfect platform to present their case to the viewers. But the question is, would they be willing to participate? Trump's love for TV might make him more inclined to accept the offer.
One potential obstacle relates to booking — and it could stop Trump from participating. On July 11th, the supposed Republican presidential nominee is due to be sentenced in the "hush money" case that went to trial last month and resulted in a New York jury convicting him on all 34 felony charges. It's possible that Trump might serve prison time or prolonged home confinement following his sentencing.
This could mean the show won't happen — unless Biden is ready to film at Mar-A-Lago during the weekend if Trump is subject to house arrest. In case Trump receives a prison sentence, Biden would have to be open to spending a weekend in Trump's jail cell.
Prepare for some captivating television.
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The Dutch-language "The Conclave" website also mentioned that the show aimed to provide viewers with insights into the politicians' opinions and agendas. After watching "The Conclave," Belgian voters may have formed strong opinions about the participants and their political beliefs, which could have influenced their voting decisions during the elections.
