Max von Kreyfelt argued that the Netherlands should ask less about which ministers should resign and more about whether officials should be held accountable. According to him, a forced departure was often followed by a new position or severance pay, which meant that political responsibility could change into a career step. He cited Hugo de Jonge as an example. Von Kreyfelt stated that political incompetence or mistakes did not in themselves constitute a crime, but that willfully lying under oath, destroying documents, falsifying data, corruption, and deliberately acting unlawfully by officials should be independently investigated. A ministerial title should not provide protection against criminal investigation, according to him. He cited as examples the childcare benefits scandal, Groningen, and the COVID-19 period. He wrote that affected parents were treated as fraudsters and that after inquiries and promises in Groningen, accountability was lacking. He also stated that Rutte, De Jonge, and Grapperhaus had presented political choices during COVID as natural laws, dismissed criticism, and stretched fundamental rights. He emphasized that this did not mean they had committed criminal offenses; this should be investigated independently, according to him. Von Kreyfelt wrote that the Netherlands had had enough of inquiries and reports without consequences, while victims faded from view. Officials who broke the law and deliberately caused harm to society should be able to go to court just like other citizens, according to him. #rechtsstaat #politiek #verantwoordelijkheid (translated)
