Frits Wester told Lale Gül live on television that she was talking nonsense about the security of politicians. “Who guarantees you that? Because it is a nonsense story!”, he shouts.
Writer and opinion maker Lale Gül says she lives in fear now that the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV) has decided to stop her personal security. There is a shortage of specialized security guards and it also costs a lot of taxpayers’ money, so considerations have to be made continuously.
Lale politics?
Lale now states that there is one option left: entering politics. Then, according to her, you will be protected. “I have spoken to many people by telephone and they say: ‘I find it so bizarre when you tell me what you have experienced. If you had even half of this and you were in politics, you would have the highest form of security.’”
“Everyone keeps telling me this. They also say honestly: ‘Maybe you should consider that, because then I know for sure that you will still have security tomorrow.’ Only now I have to consider some kind of profession… I have always had political ambitions anyway, just not at the age of 28…” she says in RTL Tonight.
Nonsense story
Studio guest Patty Brard wonders whether Lale will be protected. “You are also not sure whether you will get that security again.”
Lale: “Yes, but that is guaranteed to me by everyone.”
Political journalist Frits Wester then: “Who guarantees you that? Because it is a nonsense story.”
Patty: “Exactly.”
Lale: “Really?”
Same system
It is true that the NCTV has protected more people since the murders of Pim Fortuyn and Theo van Gogh, according to Frits. “That also includes lawyers, journalists like John van den Heuvel, opinion makers, writers. They all fall under the same system that MPs and councilors also fall under.”
But, he continues: “The same club that now makes the considerations regarding your security also makes that decision if you are a politician or councilor. These are the same people.”
No guarantee
Lale is therefore less of an illusion, Patty concludes. “So there is no guarantee at all?”
Frits: “There is no guarantee at all, because I know so many politicians, including in the House of Representatives, who said: ‘I want to be protected!’ Then the NCTV said: ‘That is not really necessary in your case.’ They also have a capacity problem and it is also a very expensive measure, but if it is necessary, it is necessary and the government generally does it.”
“The considerations for a politician are no different than for a writer, an opinion maker or lawyer.”
Proactive
Lale is shocked. “I don’t think so either, but I was told that they proactively approach politicians and say: ‘Do you want to work in security?’”
Frits: “They really tell you nonsense. And you have to ask yourself something else: if you decide to run for office now, you will also give up a lot of your freedom. I don’t know what contracts you have with De Telegraaf as a columnist, but the moment you become politically active they say: ‘Sorry, no more columns with us.’”
Lale: “No, that also applies to my role here.”
Away from RTL
At that moment Lale loses her media jobs. Frits: “So you also limit yourself very much and you end up in a political frame.”
JA21 politician Ingrid Coenradie has asked parliamentary questions about Lale’s situation. Frits: “That’s very nice, but I wonder if she’s asking it because of you or to gain publicity, because she knows the answer. She comes from the Ministry of Justice. Then she knows the answer: ‘We never make any announcements about security.’”