PVV candidate under fire walks out of integrity hearing

Marjolien Faber, the PVV faction leader in Gelderland, stormed out of the meeting arranged to discuss her possible integrity violation just 10 minutes after the meeting started, Omroep Gelderland reports. Faber's integrity came into question after it came to light that she had hired her son's company to work on the PVV's website, paying him with money from the province. Just before storming out of the meeting, Faber said that she finds it ill-judged to shame a member of the PS without an investigation. "Your registrar should first have submitted his findings to me before expressing his opinion to the media." According to her, a professor stated that her actions did not violate the integrity code. "You no longer take him seriously, dismissed as an accomplice of the PVV. It's a shame that you obviously do not trust him because he absolved me and the PVV of unlawful behavior." Faber also stated that the VVD, PvdA and SGP stumbled over each other to tell the media that she crossed a line. After Faber stormed off, the remaining members of the Procedure Committee of Gelderland discussed how they would continue. The politicians decided not to take any further steps against Faber. At the recommendation of the King's Commissioner, Clemens Cornielje, a committee will be formed to investigate whether it is possible to deal more transparently and better with annual statements and receipts. Pieter Plug (CU), Eric van Kaathoven (SP), Michiel Scheffer (D66), and Wieneke Groot (VVD) announced that they would like to serve on the committee.