PVV MP does not distance herself from 'repopulation' as conspiracy theory

Future PVV Minister Reinette Klever (Foreign Trade and Development Aid) was confronted with many critical questions about "repopulation" during the hearing in the Tweede Kamer, the lower house in the Dutch parliament. Klever made it clear that she does not think of "repopulation" as a conspiracy theory and claimed she has never used the term. "These are not my words, but I do not distance myself from them either," Klever said at the hearing. Later, she got emotional in response to repeated questions from several MPs.

"I do not share the label that it is racist," she replied to a question from DENK MP Stephan van Baarle. When asked by VVD MP Roelien Kamminga whether Klever could agree that "repopulation" was a theory that had its origins in Nazi ideology, she replied firmly: "No, I can't agree with that." During her time at the TV station Ongehoord Nederland, the "phenomenon" was addressed. "It was a factual description of a demographic development at the time."

Klever later got emotional when Jan Paternotte (D66) asked her if it was "a demographic phenomenon, as you just said, or is it, as we know from Nazi literature and our own intelligence services, a conspiracy theory?"

"Mr. Paternotte says a lot, and the comparison he makes with Nazi ideology affects me." She visibly had to swallow her tears when she said that her mother's parents sheltered people in hiding. And "my father was shot by the SS during the Second World War. I rejected those allegations."

Several party leaders and MPs were shocked and ashamed by Klever's statements about the controversial term. PVV leader Geert Wilders, however, defended her and other PVV ministerial candidates who have been critically questioned by the Tweede Kamer in hearings in recent days. For instance, incoming PVV State Secretary Chris Jansen (Public Transport and Environment) refused to distance himself from a tweet from years ago stating that fewer Moroccans equals less nuisance and crime.

"Candidates for our national government continue to support racist conspiracy theories and inflammatory statements about "fewer Moroccans," GroenLinks-PvdA leader Frans Timmermans wrote on X. "There is no end to the normalization of disgusting ideas. The lower limit is completely missing."

Kandidaten voor ons landsbestuur blijven achter racistische complottheorieën en opruiende uitspraken over “minder Marokkanen” staan.

Er komt maar geen einde aan het normaliseren van walgelijke denkbeelden.

De ondergrens is volkomen zoek.

— Frans Timmermans (@F__Timmermans) June 21, 2024

Klever's views on "repopulation" led to many critical questions during Friday's hearing. Prospective minister Casper Veldkamp (NSC, Foreign Affairs) was also repeatedly asked how he and his party wanted to sit in a Cabinet with people with such views. To the annoyance of the MPs, Veldkamp only said that he expects all ministers to adhere to the agreements about respecting the constitution and the democratic legal order.

Klever's views on "repopulation" also shocked other politicians, who expressed their dismay on social media. "While Pieter Omtzigt promised 'not to remain silent,' his NSC minister watches passively as a Nazi theory is made normal," D66 party leader Rob Jetten wrote.

In plaats van haar woorden terug te nemen, gooit beoogd PVV-minister Klever er vandaag nog een schep bovenop.

En waar Pieter Omtzigt beloofde ‘niet te zullen zwijgen’, kijkt zijn NSC-minister lijdzaam toe hoe een nazi-theorie normaal wordt gemaakt. Gaat lekker zo! https://t.co/VG7EiFoHaS

— Rob Jetten (@RobJetten) June 21, 2024

Esther Ouwehand (Party for the Animals) stated that "Prospective NSC Minister of Foreign Affairs refuses to draw the line when future PVV colleague Klever defends the Nazi repopulation theory."

Furthermore, Volt leader Laurens Dassen described the hearing as "A shocking display." Another step on the sliding scale towards a bottom that is nowhere in sight," he wrote.

However, Wilders did not care. "The grumpiness of the sour left is completely counterproductive. They try in vain to damage our people. But our candidate ministers are toppers and greats, all of them. I am proud of them!" he said on X.

Het chagrijn van zuur links werkt totaal averechts. Ze proberen vergeefs onze mensen te beschadigen. Maar onze kandidaat bewindslieden zijn toppers en kanjers, allemaal. En ze worden steeds populairder. Ze spreken de taal van de gewone man en vrouw. Wat ben ik trots op ze! #PVV

— Geert Wilders (@geertwilderspvv) June 21, 2024