Membership of Dutch governing elite in closed societies is permitted
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The discussion has been sparked by recent revelations about the participation of top Dutch officials and politicians in closed meetings. Wim Voermans, Professor of Constitutional Law, comments on the issue in Metro and Follow The Money.
Follow The Money spent five years investigating the presence of influential administrators and politicians within various closed networks in the Netherlands and published a book entitled: Onder Ons: achter de schermen bij de genootschappen van de Nederlandse elite (unofficial translation: Among Us: behind the scenes at the societies of the Dutch elite). The investigation raises questions about transparency and public accountability.
'It is permitted – judges are allowed be members of associations etc., but is it useful to be a member of such a private club?' While there may be no conflict of interest, or even the appearance of such, Professor Voermans says that if judges want to remain members, it would be wise to provide more openness about what these societies do and their members.