Should Prime Minister Rutte have put a stop to the holiday of the king and his family? According to constitutional law expert Jerfi Uzman, this is difficult. The prime minister cannot forbid King Willem-Alexander, at most strongly discourage it. If the king does go anyway, there is a risk of a constitutional crisis: an insoluble conflict between Rutte and the king.
The holiday of King Willem-Alexander and his family to Greece yesterday caused a lot of commotion. MPs demand an explanation from the prime minister, who knew about the holiday in advance.
And that makes sense, says Uzman, because Rutte is responsible for everything the king does. He must also defend the king’s actions in the Chamber.
That does create a difficult situation for the prime minister. It is not possible to forbid the king to leave. “There is no rule that the king must do what the prime minister says,” explains Uzman.
Crisis
If the king threatens to do something for which Rutte cannot possibly be accountable in the House, a constitutional crisis threatens. “In practice they try to prevent that as much as possible. It is mainly the job of the king not to embarrass our prime minister. That has happened now.”
King on vacation? These people thought something about that
King Willem-Alexander is expected to return from Greece tonight.
