Baudet denies "conspiracy theories" over U.S. embassy fundraiser

Far-right party FvD denies that it had a fundraising party at the United States embassy in Wassenaar earlier this month. According to party leader Theory Baudet, reports on that event are "conspiracy theories", AD reports.

De Groene Amsterdammer reported on an FvD event at the embassy on September 10. According to the newspaper, the event was attended by FvD members and entrepreneurs, and included a speech by American ambassador Pete Hoekstra. Attendees described it as a fundraiser, De Groene Amsterdammer reported.

The Vienna Conventions forbids foreign envoys from interfering with the internal politics of the country they are stationed in. Various parties in parliament therefore asked Minister Stef Blok of Foreign Affairs for clarification on this event.

But according to Baudet, there is nothing to clarify. "This is not about donations or whatever. I don't understand the fuss," he said to Radio 1, calling the uproar "nonsense". "You just talk to people all the time. When Rutte has an appointment with Merkel, don't they also talk about things that Merkel finds desirable in the Netherlands? Isn't that normal?"

He called the gathering at the embassy a "very nice informative evening".

A spokesperson for FvD also told AD that the event was not intended to raise funds, but was the result of an "Invitation from the US embassy" and was "organized as a dinner and a town hall meeting". "Forum voor Democratie sees the United States, the Republican Party and the Ambassador as important international allies. We maintain good relationships with them," the spokesperson said to the newspaper.