Dutch ambassador accused of election meddling after insulting PVV, Wilders

By Janene Pieters on January 17, 2017 - 14:45
Henk Swarttouw
Henk Swarttouw. (Photo: @copenhenken / Twitter)

The PVV accused Dutch ambassador to Denmar Henk Swarttouw of campaign meddling after he referred to the party as "the beast" in a tweet. PVV parliamentarian Raymond de Roon wants an explanation from Minister Bert Koenders of Foreign Affairs, the Telegraaf reports.

On Monday Swarttouw responded to an article in Newsweek about Prime Minister Mark Rutte saying that the VVD will not form a coalition with the PVV after the elections in March. "Good news! No more feeding the beast", Swarttouw said on Twitter. 

De Roon wants to know from Koenders what he thinks of a "representative of the Dutch government" making such statements about a member of the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament. According to the MP, the tweet is not only demeaning towards PVV leader Geert Wilders, but also to "the millions of Dutch people who stand behind the PVV". 

Swarttouw since apologized to Wilders. "I used inappropriate wording in my tweet yesterday", he said in another tweet to the PVV leader. "Apologies. Not my intention to engage in election campaign."

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