Baudet calls on his voters in his own video to vote and to call on people in their area to also vote. And then explain that you can also cast a vote for someone. “You can also get proxies if people around you are not going to vote or are abroad: you can vote on their behalf. You can vote on behalf of several people. Really do that, go vote.”
Another fragment shows a call during a party meeting on October 8. Baudet says there: “We have calculated: if our supporters all motivate four people to vote for FvD, and those people can of course also give a proxy to vote on their behalf, then we will win the elections.”
The Electoral Act defines the recruitment of proxies as systematically addressing or otherwise personally approaching voters in order to have them issue a private proxy. It is contrary to the principle that the initiative for voting with proxies must lie with the voter.
Punishable
It is currently punishable by a maximum prison sentence of one month. However, a bill is being prepared that will more clearly define what is meant by recruitment. It also carries a higher penalty of up to six months in prison. Anyone can file a report against recruitment.
The Electoral Council finds Mr Baudet’s statements in the video undesirable. The Public Prosecution Service must determine whether Baudet is doing something punishable with this call, the Electoral Council said. The Public Prosecution Service cannot yet answer whether Baudet is being investigated.
Not the first time
It is not the first time that Baudet has been associated with recruiting proxies. In 2021, he made a call on YouTube to ‘arrange’ proxies for the elections to the House of Representatives. The Public Prosecution Service has come to the conclusion ‘after studying the images, legislation and case law’ that there has been no violation of the Electoral Act.
“Baudet did not personally approach or address people to complete and hand over their voting card. He did not put pressure on people to do so; the initiative to grant a proxy also lies with the voter after his speech,” said the Public Prosecution Service in May 2021.
2023-10-25 11:56:02
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