Election security in steady hands, ministers say amid recent threats

Ministers Foort van Oosten (Justice) and Frank Rijkaart (Interior) say the caretaker cabinet is already taking all necessary measures to keep the upcoming parliamentary elections safe. Their remarks respond to Prime Minister Dick Schoof, who earlier this week warned that the government “really needs to step up” after threats and intimidation targeted several party leaders last week.

The independent prime minister was referring to incidents including BBB leader Caroline van der Plas canceling her visit to Radboud University, alleged threats against PVV leader Geert Wilders, and the intimidation of GroenLinks-PvdA leader Frans Timmermans at a café terrace in Amsterdam.

Van Oosten declined to say whether extra measures have been implemented, noting that the National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism (NCTV) is keeping a close watch.

“If needed, the NCTV always escalates measures,” he said Friday. “I continue to do what I have always done: maintain close contact with the NCTV.” He trusts that “they are doing their job well” and has no doubts that security preparations are being handled correctly.

Rijkaart said he is “entirely relaxed and calm” about election security. In his role as system manager for the elections, he sees no signs that the vote will be unsafe. He declined to comment on what Schoof meant by “stepping it up a notch,” adding, “As it stands, everything is proceeding as it should,” the Interior Minister said.

The elections for the Tweede Kamer, the lower house of Dutch parliament, will be held on October 29.