Wim Voermans on comments by FvD MP Van Meijeren: Sedition is prohibited
The Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) is to investigate whether comments made by 'Forum voor Democratie' MP Gideon van Meijeren about going to parliament to protest are punishable. How should the political centre in The Hague respond?
Wim Voermans, Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law, says on Dutch talkshow Op1: 'Sedition is prohibited. What he’s describing is what happened in January 2021 in the United States. That’s what he’s drawing a parallel with, and in the United States that has actually been called seditious conspiracy. That is also what Trump is suspected of.'
'If you incite violence against public authority, it could land you in prison for five years,' Voermans continues. He says the OM may also take into account that this is not the first time Van Meijeren has made such comments. 'This is one comment in a series. On 2 July, at the farmers’ protest meeting, he said that the taboo on violence should be removed. Later, he made comments at a party meeting and also called for violence. There’s a pattern to it,' said Wim Voermans.