Princess resigns from benefits scandal reparations board over bullying allegations

Princess Laurentien is going to quit her position as chairwoman of the Stichting(Gelijk)waardig Herstel (SGH) foundation, which works to ensure all the parents who were victimized by the benefits affair scandal are compensated quickly. This was announced by the foundation on Wednesday. Laurentien is quitting her post after an article about alleged transgressive behavior from the princess which was published by the AD.

According to the foundation, Laurentien believes she can no longer fulfill her role sufficiently. At the beginning of August, an article in the AD appeared that stated several anonymous sources at the Ministry of Finance had reported transgressive behavior from the princess. The foundation said they were contemplating taking legal action against AD but later decided against it.

The foundation Stichting (Gelijk)waardig Herstel helps parents affected by the benefits scandal. A lot has been said about the way the foundation does this. Parents were enthusiastic about it, but the first test involving around 300 files did not immediately convince the Ministry of Finance. The department doubted, among other things, whether the method could be applied on a large scale. Eventually, Laurentien's foundation was permitted to continue assisting the victims.

The Rutte III Cabinet resigned in early 2021 due to the benefits scandal in which tens of thousands of parents were incorrectly accused of fraud by the Tax Authorities in the last few years, and many found themselves in debt as a result. Former Prime Minister Mark Rutte said in his farewell speech at the end of June that he trusts "our replacements to continue the road to recovery."

Charman Gert-Jan Segers of the foundation's supervisory board said on Wednesday in an open letter published on the foundation's website that Laurentien's decision to quit "is personally difficult for me. It is commendable and typical of you that—once again—you are focusing on the emotional, financial, and legal recovery of the parents and their families affected by the child benefit scandal and are now giving them absolute priority."

Laurentien said that she wants to be "calm" and "happy." She said this in a conversation with RTL Nieuws. "The last thing that I want is for this to be about me," an emotional Laurentien told the news site. She said that she has been impacted by recent events. "This is who I am. My identity is my professionalism. And when you are then personally attacked, then I am turned into a different person. That affects me."

She also added that nobody asked her to resign. The foundation would like to discuss the matter with Laurentien, Segers wrote. RTL Nieuws reported that the princess will still be actively involved with the foundation.

According to Segers, the supervisory board must accept Laurentien's decision "with very mixed feelings." "At the same time, we as SHG do not want to do without your expertise," he wrote to the princess. The supervisory board, therefore, says it is looking forward to discussions with Laurentien about her further involvement.