Gündoğan says he is ‘relieved’. Furthermore, Gündoğan did not want to say anything about the judge’s ruling. She will make a statement to the press later this afternoon.
Volt suspended Gundoğan on February 14 after the party received reports of transgressive behavior. On February 26, she was expelled from the party† The party announced that day that the reports about transgressive behavior came from ‘all layers of the party’. “They range from pawing and unwelcome sexual advances to harassment and abuse of position.”
That same evening, the Member of Parliament filed a complaint against Volt for slander and libel.
No legal basis for suspension
The preliminary relief judge judges now that Volt has “trod the wrong course too expeditiously” in the whole affair. “With regard to the suspension as a party member, the court concludes that there was no legal basis for this, both legally and substantively. The party statutes and the group regulations offer no legal basis for a suspension.”
Gündoğan was suspended without a proper explanation why, without explaining the nature of the complaints and without any form of adversarial hearing, which, according to the judge, is unacceptable.
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Also terminate membership against the rules
The judge also ruled that there were no grounds for terminating the party membership. Again, the correct procedure was not followed. In addition, there was insufficient substantive grounds for the decision. “Procedurally, according to its own group rules, the party should have taken other steps before a decision could be taken to terminate the group membership.”
When it comes to undesirable behavior, a Member of Parliament should receive at least two warnings in writing. An improvement plan must also be drawn up. In addition, several discussions must have been held with the MP and the MP must be able to express his opinion about the situation in a closed Parliament meeting. “All this did not happen in Gündoğan’s case.”
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Verification Gundogan
Gundogan also read a statement in court on March 1. She denied having misbehaved. She said she felt treated “like less than the biggest criminal”:
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‘Slap in the face for Laurens Dassen’
Political reporter Floor Bremer: “With this ruling, the judge also slaps party leader Laurens Dassen in the face. It will be difficult for the party leader of this young party to maintain his position after such a ruling. Gündoğan in the party can be a complicated matter, where the question is whether the mediation proposed by the judge can remove the mutual mistrust.”
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