“Decent Politics and Respect for Volunteers are the Core of Our Democracy.”

Chairman,

A royal decoration should bring joy and not lead to political conflict.

Minister Faber wanted to send a political signal at the expense of volunteers.

Todays debate is not about five ribbons. This debate is about the standard of this cabinet and who sets that standard. What values and norms we want to uphold here together.

This is about whether this cabinet and the coalition parties want to contribute to decent politics.

We have a democratic ethos to uphold here. This debate makes clear what we mean by that word.

Democratic ethos means that as a minister and politician, you are an example in your behavior and show that you do not want to weaken our democracy, but want to strengthen it.

This minister has understood very little of that, as we have seen in recent days.

Just the facts: a week and a half ago, this minister, as always, received the nomination from the Chapter for a number of Royal decorations due to long-term voluntary commitment to Dutch society.

After this minister indicated not wanting to sign, various detours were sought and the Prime Minister tried to persuade Minister Faber otherwise.

The House of Representatives also gave you the chance yesterday to apologize, promise improvement, and still sign the Royal decorations.

All those possibilities were rejected by stating: I am not a rubber stamp.

And so there is now a fundamental problem. This minister violates a number of fundamental principles:

• The principle that you perform the office of minister in the service of the public interest and not your personal preferences or whether a ribbon is deserved or not;
  
  The principle that as a minister, you cannot choose which decisions you do or do not cooperate with. The statement I do not oppose the decision to still award the ribbons is an option that does not exist. You participate in a cabinet or you step out.
  
• The principle that volunteers are the cement of society. A minister who rejects and attacks volunteers for what they contribute to society practices cynical politics.

A fundamental problem cannot be solved pragmatically. The behavior of this minister is not right.

Constitutionally, it is not right: the unity of cabinet policy is violated and not restored.

Administratively, it is not right: a royal decoration has nothing to do with politics.

But above all: morally, it is not right.

I ask the Prime Minister to intervene. He promised to set standards at the start of this cabinet. Do it now. Draw the line. If you do not do this today, you will lose the authority that belongs to your office. I do not want that.

To the three coalition parties I say: you are ashamed of what is happening on behalf of your party, arent you? Why dont you set a standard? Why do you let this minister get away with it every time? Do not justify what is wrong.

If you - like Minister Faber - have so little understanding of what the ministerial office requires;

If you throw the dignity of the ministerial office to the wind;

If you deny volunteers who form the beating heart of our society their recognition;

If resentment and revenge drive you in politics;

If your moral compass is so broken;

Then you no longer deserve the trust of the House.