Parties in the House of Representatives are shocked by reports that a Dutch political party has also been bribed by Russian politicians. Groups want clarification from the Dutch security services, Prime Minister Mark Rutte speaks of a ‘very worrying’ trend of influence by Russia, but he does not yet confirm the bribery. Minister Hugo de Jonge of the Interior will send a letter to Parliament as soon as possible. Although he does hint that the Dutch intelligence services have also been receiving signals of foreign interference for some time.
During a scheduled agenda meeting, various parties in the House of Representatives on Thursday asked for explanations and action from the cabinet and security services. According to the Czech secret services, various European political parties – including in the Netherlands – have been bribed by Russians affiliated with the Kremlin. Given the Russia-friendly texts, parties in parliament point to Forum leader Thierry Baudet, but he – and PVV leader Geert Wilders – deny accepting money from Russia.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Thursday morning that the reporting ‘shows how great the risk of foreign influence is’. “The Netherlands will do what is necessary and do everything to keep the democratic process afloat.” He would not confirm the Czechs’ claims, but did say: “This is very worrying.”
Minister Hugo de Jonge, now responsible for the AIVD, said that ‘the signal the Czechs have sent fits in with what the AIVD sees’. “Namely that Russia threatens our legal order. But I cannot and do not want to say what we know yet. We will first inform the House of Representatives.”
Geert Wilders first wants to know whether it is ‘all correct’, he said on Thursday: “If this is true… that Moscow directly or indirectly pays politicians, then I want to know who they are.” Speaker of the House Martin Bosma thinks it is wise for the security services to look at the reports, he reports after a telephone consultation with Forum leader Thierry Baudet about the threat from Jesse Klaver on Wednesday evening. “I think the services should look at this,” says Bosma. “They are equipped for that, so I would certainly welcome that.”
NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt wants the cabinet to ask the Czech services and government for an explanation: “I hope it is not correct, I say honestly. But there are concrete indications in the press, we have to request documents from the Czechs.”
Also listen to our podcast Politics Close. You can find all our podcasts at ad.nl/podcasts.
Unfortunately, we cannot show this social post, live blog or otherwise because it contains one or more social media elements. Accept the social media cookies to still show this content.
Omtzigt cannot answer the question of whether the Dutch security services should have been informed, says the NSC leader: “That is a relevant question, but I am also a member of the Secret Committee. And because I’m in there, I can’t tell you anything about it. That is why this must now be discussed publicly.” In the Secret Committee, party leaders of larger factions are regularly secretly updated by security services MIVD and AIVD.
But now that the reports from the Czech services are public, party leaders also want to discuss such information publicly, Omtzigt, Caroline van der Plas and SGP leader Chris Stoffer emphasize.
In this matter, parties mainly point to Forum for Democracy, GL-PvdA MP Jesse Klaver wants to know whether Baudet has been paid by the Russians. A debate about this completely went off the rails yesterday, after which Baudet threatened Klaver.
After a conversation with Bosma, Baudet acknowledged that he went too far when he threatened to ‘hit Jesse Klaver in the mouth’ because Klaver asked about Forum’s ties with Russia. “I allowed myself to be cheered on, I shouldn’t have said it,” Baudet said in a short video on messaging service X on Thursday.
Watch all our videos about politics here:
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and never miss anything from the stars.
Yes, I want free unlimited access
Tags: Politically shocked claim Russian money Netherlands Minister Jonge Dont naive Politics
