D66 members question party summit about dealing with MeToo issue | Inland

Members are also allowed to raise matters about the working environment at D66, but the issues at stake are expected to predominate. The party board had announced the council of members in response to the Van Drimmelen issue. That case, concerning cross-border behavior in 2015 and 2016, appeared to be settled after a report that seemed to exonerate the lobbyist and party leader. But de Volkskrant reported last month about a confidential attachment stating that Van Drimmelen had indeed been guilty of stalking, threats and blackmail.

Safe working environment

Party chairman Victor Everhardt and party leader Sigrid Kaag apologized for their attitude in the matter. According to Everhardt, D66 has failed to offer the victim ‘a safe working environment’. Members will want to know why previous boards also failed to act, and why the confidential annex was not followed up for a year. The role of Kaag will also be discussed. The party leader said he reacted too coolly when the victim approached her.

Until recently, it seemed that the party meeting would mainly focus on the Van Drimmelen issue. But recently, another matter has also been discussed: on Friday, NRC reported that three former employees with complaints about Rafaela had gone to the integrity committee of D66. They would have upheld their complaints. Rafaela would not agree with the conclusions and threaten to leave the party.

The party has indicated that “several talks have been held in recent years” to keep the European delegation together. In addition to Rafaela, it consists of the Brussels veteran Sophie in ‘t Veld.

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