All three FvD MPs suspended for breaking transparency rules

Gideon van Meijeren talks to journalists after the vote. Photo: Robin Utrecht ANP

All three remaining MPs for the far-right party Forum voor Democracie have been suspended for seven days for failing to declare their other sources of income on the register of members’ interests.

MPs are supposed to register their jobs on the side in the interests of transparency, but all three have refused to declare their interests in a food delivery service set up by a party company last year.

A majority of MPs voted in favour of the suspension, but the far-right PVV and JA21, and pro-countryside BBB voted against. Both JA21 and the BBB said a fine would be more appropriate. Martin Bosma, an MP on behalf of the PVV and current parliamentary chairman, voted for suspension.

The suspension will only effectively last two days as parliament breaks up for the Christmas recess on Friday.

Party leader Thierry Baudet was suspended last October for failing to register his job as a director of publishing house Amsterdam Media Group, which publishes his own books. That suspension also took place just before a recess.

MP Gideon van Meijeren told reporters after the decision that the party would only answer to voters, not to parliament.

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