Dutch Media Authority calls ON! CEO's statements 'worrying' and wants answers

The Dutch Media Authority is “shocked” by the reports about ON! leader Gert Jan Mulder that were written in the Volkskrant on Friday. This was reported to ANP on Saturday by the Media Authority. The head of Ongehoord Nederland spread the replacement theory, a far-right conspiracy theory, on social media and described homosexuality as “contagious”. Mulder also posted negative and stigmatizing messages about Muslims.

“It is very important to the media authority that racism, anti-Semitism, and derogatory comments about parts of the population have no place in public broadcasting,” the authority stated. “The signals in this direction are worrying.” The authority’s office asked ON! for clarification on the statements. ON! explained in a short reply on Friday that the quotes in the Volkskrant were “a selective list of statements taken out of context”.

The Dutch Media Authority asked broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland questions on Friday about the course of events surrounding Mulder and is hoping for “additional information” from the broadcaster. The NPO said it was rushing to tighten up the code of conduct for the integrity of public broadcasting. Rabin Baldewsingh, the National Coordinator against Discrimination and Racism (NCDR), said Mulder's remarks were “downright racist” and emphasized that his statements were “damaging to the public broadcasting system and the Dutch population”.

The media watchdog emphasized on Saturday that "the Code of Conduct for Integrity in Public Broadcasting states that members of the Supervisory Board are expected to act with integrity and to exhibit behavior that contributes to the independence and integrity of the media organization." But the board itself has "no role or authority when it comes to assessing the suitability or reliability" of directors.

Minister Eppo Bruins (Education, Culture, and Science) consulted with the NPO and the Media Authority on Friday about tightening the code of conduct, he said in a statement. “We will review the content and enforcement of the code to determine if changes are necessary,” Bruins said on Friday. The minister also emphasized that high standards within public broadcasting are needed.

However, It is not clear exactly what adjustments the organizations have in mind. Two years ago, the Tweede Kamer asked whether the sanction policy of the public broadcaster could be "tightened and clarified".