The Netherlands to ban non-EU party funding
1 min read
Dutch political parties will no longer be allowed to receive funding from non-EU donors, the Netherlands’ coalition government said after a government commission recommended banning all foreign funding. The country’s Home Affairs Minister Kajsa Ollongren, however, later defended the right of Dutch parties to gather support from sister organisations within Europe.
Political parties should now be restricted to those who have at least 1,000 paying members and gifts from Dutch-born donors will remain capped at €4,500.
Research has shown that the anti-immigration and anti-Islam Dutch Party of Freedom is the main recipient of non-EU funds. The party receives funding mainly from American lobbyists, including David Horowitz, author of the book Progressive Racism.
In 2017, the Party of Freedom was under investigation as its own records did not match the Horowitz Foundation financial statements. Horowitz had donated€25,000 in 2016 and €108,244 in 2015. In 2014, the party reported having received an €18,000 donation, but the Horowitz Foundation’s own internal records indicated that the Party of Freedom had, in fact, received $75,000.
Source: New Europe
About Post Author
