PVV parliamentarian who quit can claim €135,000 over two years

James Sharpe, the MP from the anti-Islam PVV who has stepped down following allegations about his business dealings and private life, is entitled to €135,000 in unemployment benefits if he has no other income, it emerged on Thursday evening.

Sharpe has been an MP for more than three months, which entitles him to two years’ wachtgeld – the special unemployment benefit for MPs. One year is paid at 80% of an MP’s basic salary and one year at 70%.
Changes to the regulations introduced last year mean Sharpe will have to apply for jobs during the two year period.
Criminal records
Meanwhile, broadcaster RTL has asked all MPs with a criminal record to come clean. The aim is to put together an ‘objective, fair picture’ of which offences are known to the party but not to the voter, RTL said.
Journalists are now busy digging into all sorts of of MPs backgrounds and this is an opportunity for parliamentarians to put the record straight voluntarily, he said.
GroenLinks and D66 have already said they will discuss the request within the party.