Spokesman for Geert Wilders resigns over drug & alcohol use

Michael Heemels suddenly resigned as spokesman for PVV leader Geert Wilders on Thursday. His resignation is because of "financial missteps" caused by "problematic drug and alcohol use", according tot he press statement he released via his lawyer, news wire ANP reports. "These missteps are largely caused by problematic drug and alcohol use. This use increased significantly to deal with stress and pressure", the statement said. Heemels adds that this is not an excuse, but "merely to explain my irrational actions". He sought professional help for his substance abuse. Heemels resigned as PVV faction leader in Limburg early in February after his financial missteps became known. He transferred large amounts of money to faction employee Daryl Pfoster. According to Heemels, these were regular salary payments. According to Pfoster, he never received the money. An investigation was started into this when Heemels resigned. In his statement on Thursday Heemels said that he will do everything he can to fix these mistakes as soon as possible. It was never his intention to discredit the PVV, he said. The Limburg PVV faction is pressing charges against Heemels, the acting faction leader Robert Housmans said on Thursday. "The PVV faction does not accept this type of behavior like the actions of Heemlels from other parties, and therefore certainly not from our own people", he said.