The ongoing protests before the Lower House are “very intimidating” for parliamentarians and MPs, says President of the Lower House Khadija Arib. She asked the mayor of The Hague Jan van Zanen in a letter on Friday “with a view to safety” to spread the protests more over the city.
The ongoing protests before the Lower House are “very intimidating” for parliamentarians and MPs, says President of the Lower House Khadija Arib. She asked the mayor of The Hague Jan van Zanen in a letter on Friday “with a view to safety” to spread the protests more over the city.
In recent weeks, more and more opponents of the corona measures and corona law have been demonstrating on the Square in front of the House of Representatives.
Arib emphasizes that the right of demonstration is “a great good and is firmly anchored in our constitution”. “But although the demonstrations are often peaceful, there is more and more shouting at MPs, who are sometimes also physically accosted,” said the President of the House.
The unsafe situations that arise as a result, according to Arib, have a “major impact” on employees and members of the Lower House. In recent weeks they had to constantly look for alternative exits or be escorted outside.
The President of the House therefore asks Mayor Van Zanen to “take a critical look” at the number of demonstrations in the immediate vicinity of the Lower House. According to her, demonstrations could be better spread across the city, such as on the Malieveld or the Koekamp.
Arib states that the mayor of The Hague said during a meeting on September 29 that he shared the concerns of the House, but that he would not link any concrete actions to this.
Omtzigt threatened to the Lower House
Hundreds of people from various action groups, including Virus Truth (formerly known as Virus Madness), have demonstrated in front of the doors of the Lower House. This concerns both people who are concerned about the corona measures, but also supporters of conspiracy theories.
Last month, the police arrested a 26-year-old man from Heerlen, because he annoyed CDA member Pieter Omtzigt during a demonstration and threatened death. Arib subsequently filed a report. Some of the demonstrations have been disbanded because they were not announced in advance. Dozens of people were arrested.
Van Zanen: Protest is not just ended
In a response, Van Zanen says that demonstrating “is a fundamental right” and that the decision to end or move a demonstration is not taken “lightly”, according to NOS.
According to him, measures have already been taken, such as the relocation of unannounced demonstrations to the Malieveld. Demonstrations must also be static, which means that demonstrators are not allowed to move.
