Top Amsterdam jurists fear the rule of law is on the verge of collapsing in the city

The chief public prosecutor, the president of the court, and the dean of the bar association in Amsterdam are concerned about the state of the rule of law in Amsterdam. The three wrote in an opinion piece in De Telegraaf that the rule of law is under pressure in the city. “The rule of law is the spine of our society. Without the rule of law, the citizens of our country cannot live together peacefully.”

The balance between the legislative, executive, and judicial powers is being disrupted, making it more difficult for prosecutors, judges, and lawyers to do their jobs, they conclude. People in these positions are being threatened, and legal convictions are being treated as “just an opinion,” Chief Public Prosecutor Rene de Beukelaer, President of the Amsterdam Court Bart van Meegen, and co-dean Jacqueline Schaap of the Amsterdam Bar Association wrote in De Telegraaf.

“We strive for the same target from each of our roles: a stable rule of law in which all civilians have access to the court, victims are heard, suspects are treated fairly, and court verdicts are followed,” they wrote. However, they are seeing a drop in this and are now working on repairing and strengthening the rule of law. “Together, but also with the citizens of the city.”

They particularly want to involve young people in this, through a youth council to be established. “Not just to explain how the rule of law functions and why this is important, but also to hear what young people need when it comes to law, justice, security, and freedom.”

The three also pointed out the behavior of civilians that are undermining authority by, for example, demonstrating in areas where they are not allowed, or threatening judges on social media. “This affects everyone. Because, it is impossible to live together when people do not feel bound by the law, and the law does apply to you and not to them. We can see in other countries what this can lead to: corruption, discrimination, intimidation. The rule of law ultimately protects us from the law of the strongest. Or of the richest."