Chamber is shocked by reports of Russian interference: debate early next week

NOS News•today, 11:30 am•Amended today, 11:52

The House of Representatives wants a letter from the cabinet very soon, preferably today, about the reports that Dutch politicians have been paid by Russia to take pro-Russian positions. If the reports are correct, the House wants to hold a debate on the issue early next week.

The reason is the news that the Czech Republic says it has dismantled a Russian disinformation network. The Voice of Europe website played a key role in this. Politicians from various countries, including the Netherlands, are said to have been approached and in some cases paid to question Ukraine’s right to exist in the run-up to the European elections.

“If this is true, then I want to know: who are they? I want to hear man and horse. Which parties are involved?” said PVV leader Wilders when he requested the debate. He wants to receive a letter as soon as possible from outgoing Minister De Jonge of the Interior, which concerns both the election process and the intelligence services.

He received support from almost the entire House for his proposal. Several MPs called the messages “very serious”. A majority absolutely does not want to be informed confidentially by the cabinet. “Everything must be public and transparent,” said BBB leader Van der Plas.

Wilders has sometimes spoken positively about the Voice of Europe website in the past. When asked about it, he now says he feels cheated.

“Yes, I didn’t know of course. So yes, that can happen. But fortunately we have never received a cent from anyone, directly or indirectly, from that country, not even via a website. But it is bad. Because We have European elections soon and if they are influenced with large sums of money, that is very bad.”

NSC leader Omtzigt also wants the issue to be investigated “with great urgency”. “The Netherlands fully supports Ukraine and it would be very undesirable if money were accepted from Russia, one way or the other.”

Politicians from Forum for Democracy regularly have their say on the Voice of Europe website. Baudet’s party supports Russia in the conflict with Ukraine.

There is so far no evidence that Forum is influenced or paid by Moscow, but other parties in the Chamber point out that the accounting of Forum, and foundations affiliated with the party, is not very transparent.

Yesterday this led to a clash between Baudet and GroenLinks-PvdA MP Klaver. Klaver asked about annual figures of a foundation that Baudet founded in 2014 to organize activities surrounding the Ukraine referendum, but Baudet remained vague about this.

After the debate, Baudet said that he would hit Klaver “in the mouth” if he asked about it again. He has since apologized for that threat.