The president of the Netherlands’ high court has criticised politicians for making political statements about court rulings and called for a code of conduct to be introduced.

Geert Corstens, the Netherlands’ most senior judge, was reacting to criticism of judges’ refusal to automatically double punishments for people convicted of attacking the police last week.
It is not the place of ministers and MPs to interfer with court rulings, Corstens said on a tv show.
While criticism of rulings was acceptable, politicians must show respect for the courts and judges, he said. The role of judges is to interpret the law. ‘Politicians should respect that role and show that respect,’ legal website Juridisch Dagblad quoted the high court president as saying.
Earlier this week home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst said judges were wrong to state facing violence is a part of the police job.
MPs have also criticised a number of court rulings for being too lenient and the decision to prosecute MP Geert Wilders for hate crimes.
Nos tv reports that MPs have rejected the idea of a code of conduct. Judges should come down from their ivory towers, Liberal (VVD) MPs were quoted as saying.