What do the republicans want to achieve?
This case is mainly initiated to reduce the influence of King Willem-Alexander on the judiciary. The society’s lawyer, Ewout Jansen, refers to the lawsuits that the king has conducted because of unwanted publications of photos of family members. “A king who regularly takes legal action against the media and always wins, is that contrary to the independence of judges?”
Republicans say yes. Because lawyers swear allegiance to the king, his portrait hangs on the wall, judges are appointed by him and the king, for example, is also chairman of the highest administrative court. That is all ceremonial. But according to the society it is naive to think that it has no influence.
The state is therefore acting in violation of the right to a fair trial, according to the prosecutors. In other words, a violation of article six of the European Convention on Human Rights. “The main goal is to get the king out of the courtroom,” said chairman Müller. The ultimate goal of the organization with 10,000 members is the abolition of the monarchy.
How much chance does the lawsuit have?
Two constitutional law experts approached by the NOS are gloomy for the suing party. “It hardly seems promising”, says Douwe Jan Elzinga, professor of constitutional law (RUG). According to him, the judge will not readily comment on these kinds of political issues.
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