An MP of the Dutch anti-Islamic Freedom Party has apologised to the party for the embarrassment caused by the revelation that he was found guilty of sexual misconduct in 2002. Party leader Geert Wilders said earlier he felt 'unfairly treated' by MP Eric Lucassen, who failed to report his criminal past before the party's selection committee.
It was impossible, however, for Mr Wilders to expel Mr Lucassen from the parliamentary group, as that would have destroyed the one-seat majority it gives the current right-wing cabinet. The Freedom Party was instrumental in forging the coalition and is providing make-or-break support to the two-party cabinet of the free-market VVD and the Christian Democrats. As a sanction, the party leader deprived Mr Lucassen of his position as party spokesman on Neighbourhood Improvement and Defence.
Detention
The MP, a former army instructor, admitted that he was fined twice for threatening and intimidating his neighbours, and served one week in military detention for sexual misconduct involving two female recruits under his command. In a statement by the Freedom Party, Mr Lucassen is quoted as saying he made a huge mistake. He said he was "deeply ashamed about this and offering his apologies to the Freedom Party and the people involved in the cases [which were revealed last week]".
The revelations about Mr Lucassen's misconduct were particularly embarrassing because the Freedom Party is strong on law and order and on eradication of what it calls 'street terror'.
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I don't think anyone is surprised about it, he's not the only diplomat that should have failed a criminal background check. Unfortunately his position was stronger than his criminal record, he broke a rule and we all know about it but that doesn't seem to matter, does it?
Hello, David Berridge! In the New elections, you will see more support for Wilders and his party.
Criminal Law
"It was impossible, however, for Mr Wilders to expel Mr Lucassen from the parliamentary group, as that would have destroyed the one-seat majority it gives the current right-wing cabinet. "
Sorry, I fail to see how this was impossible, undesirable perhaps for this forlorn coalition - but impossible? No.
More double standards.
Hiram, I wish more people were like you. You are the only one with common sense. Eric Lucassen made a few past mistakes in his youth, he paid for those mistakes and moved on. Should he be forced to pay for his minor offences for the rest of his life? Some of the other commenters on here seem to want PVV to fail in order to justify their own perception on how they want everyone to see PVV as they do which is pure hatred towards PVV because PVV is Pro Israel. PVV will always have my support! Nobody has ever had the courage to openly support Israel and the Jewish people as Geert Wilders party has in all of Europa. Nobody has ever had the courage to stand up to Homophobics as Wilders party has, so this is why Wilders is the most popular politician in Europa! God bless PVV!
Do you have a brain? And again another PVV criminal......watch the news...
Just some minor mistakes... yeah yeah yeah... and what if a Moroccan makes minor mistakes like this? Have you ever heard about the consequences the PVV has for these people and Muslim people? If they will apologize for their mistakes will they get away so easy if PVV controls the Netherlands? If you support the PVV you are really dumb, ignorant and a racist. They are talking about the normal Dutch people and the elite of the Hague... They are part of this and they couldn't care less about common people. And nobody openly supports Israel and the Jewish people??? Under witch rock do you live? And btw we are living in the Netherlands here and not in the Gaza. If Wilders want to help the Jewish in the Gaza he should move there and give up his Dutch passport. This has nothing to do with Dutch society and politics! Unbelievable...
So how do Henk & Ingrid feel now? Wilders was fighting against elite the Hague and the power politics over principles... Yeah right... He screwed you Henk & Ingri
So how do Henk & Ingrid feel now? Wilders was fighting against elite the Hague and the power politics over principles... Yeah right... He screwed you Henk & Ingrid.
A by-election seems to have been judged to risky to hold, so Lucassen offered an apology. How this will pay off for Geert remains to be seen when new elections are to be held in future.
Hello, David Berridge! In the New elections, you will see more support for Wilders and his party.
2002, was a long time ago. Now, that Wilders and and his party has some control, information is being released. I wonder why? If he served one week in dention, the Dutch military must not have been too concerned about him. Man serves one week in detention and now he is not capable of change and being a politician? Not a very tolerant society. This attack was against Wilders and not against Lucassen. He was the means to get at Wilders by the Facists who control the EU. Clear and simple!
So one seat majority is more important than ethics. Who says crime doesn't pay?