Uproar about Martin Bosma’s invitation to slavery memorial
The decision to invite Martin Bosma to an annual ceremony to mark the end of slavery in the Netherlands has been the subject of debate due to his previous controversial remarks on Dutch slavery history. However, Bosma was invited in his capacity as Speaker of the Dutch House of Representatives and not as a member of the Party for Freedom (PVV). Wim Voermans, Professor of Constitutional and Administrative Law, discusses this in Amsterdam-based daily newspaper ‘Het Parool’.
Amsterdam City Council received a request from political party Denk to ban Bosma from attending the event. In Het Parool, Amsterdam’s mayor Femke Halsema opposes the ban, arguing that Martin Bosma represents the Dutch House of Representatives through a role that shouldn’t be politicised.
Bosma doesn’t feel the need to comply with NiNsee’s (National Institute for the Dutch Slavery History and Legacy) request to retract or respond to his previous remarks.
Professor Voermans suggests that NiNsee may decide not to invite Bosma to the event. ‘But, as a result, there would be one less wreath, which may cause embarrassment,’ he adds. He also argues that while people with representative positions hold their own views, the Speakership role isn’t a political one, unlike ministerships and state secretaryships.
More information
Read the full article in Het Parool (in Dutch, €)
Photo: British Library through Unsplash