Queen Maxima accused of tax evasion in Argentine media
Dutch Queen Maxima has been accused of tax evasion in Argentine media. According to investigative website El Cohete a la Luna, Maxima does not report the correct value of her possessions in Patagonia, in the west of Argentina, to the tax authorities. Dutch parliamentarians are demanding an explanation from Prime Minister Mark Rutte, AD reports.
Ten years ago Maxima and Willem-Alexander, then still crown prince of the Netherlands, bought a number of plots of land in the state of Rio Negro. According to El Cohete a la Luna, the Dutch royal couple never reported improvements to the real estate and infrastructure on the land they own, through which the Argentine government is missing out on tax revenues.
According to the site, wealthy landowners in Rio Negro never report such improvements to their properties to the tax services.
Dutch parliamentarians want an explanation. "We see that the richest people around the world try in all kinds of ways to contribute as little as possible to our society. Our royal family should have no part in that, but rather set a good example. I therefore want immediate clarification from Prime Minister Rutte about what is going on here", PvdA parliamentarian Attje Kuiken said to AD. D66 MP Joost Sneller said: "They are people with an exemplary role. I think it's good that this is clarified."
Government information service Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst wasn't able to immediately give AD a response to the allegations on the Argentine site.
