The Dutch House of Representatives is pushing for a further investigation into the possible involvement of politicians, including former Speaker Vera Bergkamp, in leaks to NRC, despite the Presidium’s decision against it. This follows dissatisfaction with the previous investigation that focused solely on civil servants.

Members of parliament across multiple parties are expressing concerns and calling for clarity. They believe a follow-up investigation is necessary to uncover the full extent of the situation.

The call for further investigation gained traction after revelations suggested the Presidium may have been misled during the initial investigation into Arib. SP MP Michiel van Nispen, who was part of the Presidium in 2022, expressed feeling “betrayed” by the information presented at the time.

The core issue is whether members of parliament were involved in leaking information about Arib and whether the Presidium was manipulated into launching the initial investigation.

Previous investigations by the National Criminal Investigation Department did not find any evidence of leaks from within the political sphere, as highlighted in the lawsuit against Sonja Kloppenburg, Bergkamp’s former spokesperson, who was ultimately acquitted. However, the court noted that the investigation was limited because members of parliament can only be prosecuted by the Supreme Court.

NSC, along with BBB, is urging Speaker Bosma to engage the Supreme Court and proceed with investigating those involved, including Bergkamp. Van Nispen is advocating for Bosma to explore all available legal avenues to uncover the truth, even if it requires further investigation over the summer.

The MPs aim for clarity on the leaks to NRC as swiftly as possible, underscoring the damage to the House of Representatives’ reputation and the harm inflicted on Arib. There are also calls for the House to cover Arib’s legal costs as a gesture towards her rehabilitation.