A recurring feature of the program is the Opinion Panel, a group of over 35,000 viewers who are regularly asked, via the
Internet, for their opinion on current topics. This makes it one of the largest opinion panels in the Netherlands.
Politician of the year In December 2004 the members of the opinion panel (together with
members of parliament), were asked to choose their "politician of the year". Each group was asked to rank both the best and the worst politicians. The parliamentarians chose as their best politician the
Socialist Party leader
Jan Marijnissen, followed by
CDA leader (and
Prime Minister at the time)
Jan Peter Balkenende, followed by
Wouter Bos (leader of the
PvdA). As worst politician they chose
Rita Verdonk, describing her as an "elephant in a china cabinet" (a Dutch expression meaning ruthless and incompetent).
Geert Wilders and
Mark Rutte are also elected to the Politician of the Year. The members of the opinion panel also selected Marijnissen as best politician, but chose Bos as the worst. Remarkably, Verdonk appeared in second place and Balkenende in third on both the best and the worst lists. ==Presenters and editors==