The cabinet releases 10 million euros per year for the safety of local government. Minister Bruins Slot of the Interior writes to the House of Representatives that the money is intended, among other things, to better secure the homes of councilors, aldermen and civil servants.
Local administrators are increasingly subject to intimidation, threats and violence. “An attack on a councilor, alderman or mayor affects us all,” Bruins Slot writes. “It affects the core of democracy.”
According to her, the threats come partly from organized crime, but also from unrest in society and the declining trust in the government. Mayors are especially targeted; 65 percent of them say they have been confronted with verbal aggression or threats. Among aldermen and councilors this is 40 and 30 percent respectively.
Make a declaration earlier
Bruins Slot hopes that the extra money will lead to politicians and civil servants reporting earlier if they are threatened or intimidated. “I also want to invest more in preventive security measures at the homes of decentralized drivers.”
The 10 million extra is in the budget for the next ten years, so that it comes to a total of 100 million euros. It is part of the measures that the government wants to take against organized crime. A total of EUR 434 million is earmarked for this annually.
–
