DutchNews.nl - DutchNews.nl brings daily news from The Netherlands in English

9 July 2025
Newsletter Donate Advertise
  • News
  • Life in the Netherlands
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
  • Search
  • Home
  • Economy
  • Politics
  • Art and culture
  • Sport
  • Europe
  • Society
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Housing
  • Education
  • News
    • Home
    • Economy
    • Politics
    • Art and culture
    • Sport
    • Europe
    • Society
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Housing
    • Education
  • Life in the Netherlands
    • Latest
    • Opinion
    • Books
    • Travel
    • 10 Questions
    • Learning Dutch
    • Inburgering with DN
    • Food & Drink
    • Ask us anything
  • Jobs
  • Podcast
  • About us
    • Team
    • Donate
    • Advertise
    • Writing for Dutch News
    • Contact us
    • Privacy
    • Newsletter
  • Search

Socialist Party sacks councillor who compared Thierry Baudet to Nazis

January 27, 2020
Photo: SP
Photo: SP

The Socialist Party has ordered a council group leader in Groningen to give up his seat after he called Forum voor Democratie (FvD) leader Thierry Baudet a Nazi on Twitter.

Maarten Kluit refused to apologise for his tweet, in which he also called Baudet ‘the biggest threat to the nation-state’, but stepped down from his post in Midden-Groningen after the SP distanced itself from his words.

‘I certainly see similarities between Baudet and fascism and Nazism’, he said on Sunday. ‘By that I mean the huge hatred of foreigners that Baudet projects, the attacks on the positions of judges, the media and everybody who has a different opinion.’

Kluit, who was appointed leader of the SP’s five councillors on January 1 this year, will be succeeded by party veteran Han van der Vlist.

A statement by the party said it had taken a ‘difficult and tough decision,’ but Van der Vlist was plainer when he spoke to RTV Noord: ‘We said: this is wrong, he has to give up his seat.’

Van der Vlist added that he was the only candidate to take over. ‘The other councillors couldn’t or wouldn’t do it, so I’ve taken on the responsibility. I will take the helm so that together we can steer the party into calmer waters.’

Share this article
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Reddit
  • Copy URL
Politics
Thank you for donating to DutchNews.nl.

We could not provide the Dutch News service, and keep it free of charge, without the generous support of our readers. Your donations allow us to report on issues you tell us matter, and provide you with a summary of the most important Dutch news each day.

Make a donation
Latest
Show more
Polish workers at Dutch distribution centres go on strike
Zwolle approves plan to house 400 refugees despite Wilders visit
Freelancers earning under €36 an hour may gain more rights
Van Hijum proposes law ending sanctions for “honest mistakes”
Climate-friendly investments double to €41bn in four years
NewsHomeEconomyPoliticsArt and cultureSportEuropeSocietyEnvironmentHealthHousingEducation
Life in the NetherlandsLatestOpinionBooksTravel10 QuestionsLearning DutchInburgering with DNFood & DrinkAsk us anything
About usTeamDonateAdvertiseWriting for Dutch NewsContact usPrivacyNewsletter
© 2025 DutchNews | Cookie settings

Help us to keep providing you information about coronavirus in the Netherlands.

Many thanks to everyone who has donated to DutchNews.nl in recent days!

We could not provide this service without you. If you have not yet made a contribution, you can do so here.

The DutchNews.nl team

Donate now

Dutchnews Survey

Please help us making DutchNews.nl a better read by taking part in a short survey.

Take part now