House will use the heaviest means in investigation of corona policy

It had actually been established for some time that there would be a parliamentary inquiry into the corona crisis, but the House of Representatives has now officially stated this.

The purpose of the survey is to investigate all aspects of corona policy and measures. In doing so, the House wants to look at the role of the cabinet, parliament and other involved bodies, advisers and experts.

A large parliamentary majority supports the idea: at the end of the corona debate, VVD, SP, D66, PvdA, CDA, GroenLinks, ChristenUnie and SGP submitted a joint motion about this last night. The House will vote on it later today.

Preparations mid 2022

The Dutch Safety Board is already conducting an investigation into the fight against the coronavirus and the House also wants to take a closer look at the pandemic itself. According to the motion, preparations for the survey should start in the middle of next year.

Then the exact assignment must also be defined. But the time can be shifted if new developments arise that demand attention, the motion states. The House wants to prevent the survey from getting in the way of combating the crisis.

Heaviest Medium

A parliamentary inquiry is considered the most severe means of the House of Representatives. He or she can then independently investigate a particular issue. Witnesses are required to appear and they are interrogated under oath.

There have been twelve parliamentary inquiries since the Second World War. The last one was from 2013 to 2016 and concerned the debacle over the Fyra, the fast train connection between the Netherlands and Belgium.

In addition to the corona crisis, surveys are planned in the near future on two other major issues: the allowance affair and gas extraction in Groningen.

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