PVV Minister refuses to sign off on Royal honors for asylum volunteers
Minister Marjolein Faber of Asylum and Migration refused to sign off on awarding a Royal distinction to five former volunteers of the Central Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers (COA). The Minister’s signature is usually a formality and won’t have any effect - another Cabinet member can sign off on the volunteers’ medals. Her coalition partners are outraged.
“Their work is at odds with my policy,” the PVV Minister told NOS about her refusal. “I stand for a strict asylum policy because I want to drastically reduce the influx and also the number of residency permits.”
Faber’s move is very unusual, because it is not the Minister who determines whether someone is eligible for a medal. The process for receiving a Royal honor starts with a citizen’s nomination to the municipality. The mayor and King’s Commissioner must give approval and forward the nomination to the Chapter of Civil Orders, which assesses the nominee’s eligibility.
In the past, Ministers have always adopted the advice of the Chapter of Civil Orders, according to the broadcaster. The Minister’s signature is normally a formality. And Faber’s refusal to sign won’t have much effect. The COA volunteers will still receive their medals. Another member of the Cabinet can sign off on their awards - it doesn’t have to be Faber herself.
The awards went to Faber for her signature because the COA carries out the legal task of providing shelter for asylum seekers on behalf of Faber’s own Ministry. The agency told NOS that it was very surprised by Faber’s refusal to sign off on the awards for the five former volunteers. “We think it is self-evident that people who make a huge effort to help other people should be recognized for this,” the COA said.
PVV leader Geert Wilders supported Faber’s refusal. “Why should we reward people who help pamper asylum seekers with a royal ribbon?” the far-right populist wrote on X.
The other three coalition parties were outraged. NSC leader Pieter Omtzigt called it “bizarre” that Faber refused to honor people from her own service. BBB leader Caroline van der Plas called it “very, very sad.” VVD leader Dilan Yeşilgöz said: “Let us please treat each other maturely in this country and thank volunteers for their efforts.”
Opposition parties also responded with surprise and disapproval. “Royal medals belong to society and are requested by people from society. Does everything have to be made political? Minister Faber is overstepping the boundaries of decency here,” said CDA leader Henri Bontenbal.
“It should not come as a surprise from a Minister who makes life difficult for her own executive organization in every possible way,” said D66 parliamentarian Anne-Marijke Podt. “But of course it is too pathetic for words.”
Faber’s refusal is “bizarre, indecent, and heartless,” said ChristenUnie MP Pieter Grinwis. “The only positive thing about this policy with a very small p is: apparently, Faber reads her documents and does not sign them blindly. But what an unempathetic board in front of your head you must have.”
The Commissioners of the King are very concerned by Faber’s refusal to honor the COA volunteers. “Royal distinctions are not a political instrument,” René Paas, the King’s Commissioner in Groningen, warned in a statement on LinkedIn, also writing on behalf of his colleagues. Faber’s personal views “can undermine the objectivity of the system and lead to unwanted politicization.”
“Respect the existing procedures and criteria and keep the awarding of Royal distinctions free from political considerations,” the King’s Commissioners urged the government. “This is essential to maintain the value of significance of these medals for society.’
