D66 will hold a members meeting on Sunday about cross-border behaviour. It will of course be about the MeToo case of a former party strategist, but especially about the way the party deals with such a thing. What’s going on?
First the MeToo case: it came end of 2020 rolling. A woman then posted a story on the internet in which she accused an important member of D66 of transgressive behaviour.
The man, party strategist Frans van Drimmelen, is said to intimidate and manipulate women within the party. That would not only have happened to the writer of the message, but also to another D66 employee.
According to the whistleblower, Van Drimmelen helped women within the party to a better place in exchange for sex or a relationship.
Who is Frans van Drimmelen?
- Van Drimmelen has been chairman of the national talent committee of D66 since 2014.
- He had a strong say in who got important positions within the party.
- Before that, he was treasurer of the national board, and from 1999 to 2003, national campaign manager.
- Since 2018, Van Drimmelen no longer has an official position in the party.
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D66 quickly launched an investigation into the complaint. Two months later, in February 2021, a report appeared showing that there was no evidence of any transgressive behavior by Van Drimmelen.
Not much going on so far, you would think. But:
De Volkskrant revealed last month that the investigation was not finished after publishing that report. New information, which only emerged after the publication of that report, would have shown that the woman was right after all. However, this information was not made public by D66.
Furthermore, according to a number of important members of D66, nineteen other complaints about transgressive behavior have not been properly investigated. But according to the BING research agency, the complaints were not investigated, partly because the complainants themselves did not want to.
A week after the Volkskrantdisclosure, D66 admitted to having made major mistakes in the investigation into Van Drimmelen’s behaviour. But a new investigation did not find the party necessary. Party leader Sigrid Kaag admitted that she had been aware of the matter for a year, but had hardly taken any action.
In the chaotic press conference in which D66 admitted the mistakes, Kaag seemed to hide behind formalities. “I made a mistake by not following through. But I had no formal role,” she kept repeating when asked why she did not act when the woman personally asked her for help. This is officially a matter for the party board, not for the party leader.
She did call it “terrible” that people have felt unsafe, and said that she “should have called” the woman in question herself. “This transgressive behavior should have had consequences sooner.”
Van Drimmelen has denied his wrongdoing for a long time. Only at the end of April, after the publications of de Volkskranthe canceled his D66 membership.
In the first place, of course, the issue is very painful for the woman who has been ignored for months by the party leadership and Kaag, and all possible other victims. But also for Kaag himself. Kaag has always made a key point about women’s rights, promising “new leadership” with an open and transparent governance style before last year’s elections. Keeping information about transgressive behavior under wraps is, of course, anything but.
In a petition, at least seven hundred D66 members called for a meeting in which the D66 top will account for the case and the concealed information. That meeting is today. First there are member discussions in small groups behind closed doors. The plenary part will start at 3.30 pm. In it, Kaag and party chairman Victor Everhardt give speeches.
The meeting will discuss “what needs to be improved in the future”. Kaag will undoubtedly be questioned critically by her party members, but there are no loud calls for her to leave. At least not in public.
“My goal is not: heads have to roll,” says Daphnie Ploegstra, one of the initiators of the petition, in the Password† “I don’t think it has been solved with the resignation of Kaag or Everhardt. Openness is the most important, restoring trust.”
And what about the case of a D66 MEP?
- Another D66 member is also under fire: Samira Rafaela. She is one of the two MEPs from D66.
- Three former employees approached the integrity committee of D66 with complaints about abuse of power and bullying by Rafaela.
- The committee declared the complaints well-founded, NRC discovered in confidential documents.
- That led to such a fight between her fellow D66 MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld that the two no longer work together.
- The party board has not yet said anything about this matter. There is a good chance that it will be discussed on Sunday.
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