Parliament supports Volkert release

A considerable majority of Parliament accepts the plan to release Volkert van der Graaf on parole on the 2nd of May this year. Van der Graaf, an environmental activist, murdered politician Pim Fortuyn on the 6th of May in 2002. The VVD, PvdA, SP, D66, ChristenUnie and GroenLinks support the release, though some parties do want to change the system very soon. The PVV finds the release unacceptable. The VVD knows that Volkert's release is probationary, as he will have to adhere to strict conditions of release. The liberals recognize that Van der Graaf has served two-thirds of his sentence, but do want the law to change in the future. PvdA MP Ahmed Marcouch does not see the need for politics to involve itself in individual court cases, and respects the decision of the Public Prosecution Authority (OM). "It is the responsibility of the OM to make a careful decision about the release of an inmate. Re-socialization, the prevention of repeat-offense and the guarantee of safety in society are leading conditions." Magda Berndsen, MP for the D66m doesn't see any reason to postpone conditional release. She echoes Marcouch's statement that the OM's decisions are not up to politics to question. "Detainees will sooner or later come back to society, it is then good if this goes cautiously and is covered with guarantees." The SP, ChristenUnie and GroenLinks think the release should be accepted as well. The PVV, however, is of the meaning that the release is unacceptable. The party is demanding a debate with state secretary for Safety and Justice, Fred Teeven, as soon as possible. The SGP is not fully convinced either, as they think a sentence should be served from beginning to end.