Top politician must be the first to leave 'The masked singer': “...

We will never know how his version of ‘Alexandrie, Alexandra’ had sounded next week: the Ostend mayor Bart Tommelein (Open VLD) was the first to take off his sweaty suit in ‘The masked singer’ on VTM on Friday evening. “I asked my employee during the preparations to block my calendar and not to ask questions.”

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“Participating in such a program is not for a politician. You always have people who think that way, but I don’t care about that. I know that many colleagues would not or would not dare to participate, but I am who I am. I love music. ”

Not that he applies with the latter for that other VTM program, but it is correct. Bart Tommelein studied at the conservatory and plays the clarinet, among other things. In the past he has already been caught performing a duet with N-VA politician Liesbeth Homans in favor of Red Nose Day, and he regularly performs on local stages. “I am a great admirer of father Hazes and was happy that I am now Live from his son. I had been planning to do something with it for a long time. ”

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For months he had to remain silent about his role in The masked singer. The first question came in the fall of 2019 and the recordings took place in June. In between, there was a balance between the election of chairmen of Open VLD and the approach to the corona crisis. “In the meantime I had banned my participation from my memory. Consciously, so that I wouldn’t slip up. But it was a feat to get everything scheduled and not betray anything: rehearsals, promo film, TV recording, you name it. I asked my employee to block my calendar and not to ask questions. And then it was singing and sweating, and again, and again. ”

His wife was aware. “I could hardly say every time: Honey, I’m gone, but I’m not telling you where. Well, she’s very discreet. My private secretary also knew what was going on, without knowing the details. Someone had to know where the mayor was in a possible emergency. But my children, they were allowed to discover it on TV. ”

Still, Tommelein said he had his doubts before he took it. Or just a moment. “After they asked me the first time, I didn’t hear anything for a long time. I secretly hoped they had forgotten. Until suddenly I got the message that my suit was ready. I couldn’t go back. BartI said to myself this is something unique, go for it. All the more so because the program is highly regarded abroad. ”

So now there is that premature exit, and with him also that of the character ‘Monster’. “Of course I had the ambition to stay longer. I thought the charm of that cute suit would help me with that. But above all, I am happy that they chose me to participate. ”