The board of the PvdA acted recklessly in the case of MP Gijs van Dijk, who was accused of irregular conduct. This is the conclusion of the PvdA Appeals Committee, which lifts the sanctions against Van Dijk.

The Appeals Committee notes that the party executive has not been able to clarify that Van Dijk’s behavior has affected his political functioning, he reports one today. The committee is also critical because party leader Esther-Mirjam Sent Van Dijk did not offer an opportunity to refute the complaint.

External research agency

Van Dijk resigned as an MP in February after women accused him of illegal behavior. The PvdA concluded this summer, after an investigation by an external research institute, that Van Dijk was guilty of irregular conduct.

In response to the report, the party executive ruled that Van Dijk would not be allowed to return to the party for four years as an MP, nor to hold any other post within the PvdA. These sanctions have now been lifted.

The Appeals Committee denounced the board’s refusal to see the investigation report. “The consequence of this is that the committee cannot assume the accuracy of the report,” he said one today the Appeals Committee.

Explanation

Van Dijk says he’s happy to “finally” feel support from the party. “I totally identify with the negligence in this whole process that was concluded by the committee.” Van Dijk says he will also file a complaint against the investigating authority for “procedural errors”.

Party leader Sent defended in a reply that the appeals committee had no access to the investigation report. “The confidentiality and the working of the report were discussed in advance,” said Sent. “For everyone involved, including Gijs van Dijk.” According to the chairman, the conclusions of the report are not up for discussion.

It is still unclear whether Van Dijk can return to the house for the PvdA. In theory, he could take the place of Khadija Arib, who is expected to officially retire from parliament soon.