The new mayor of Tilburg was announced on Thursday evening, a week earlier than planned. That had everything to do with the fact that Esmah Lahlah’s name became known as a candidate. According to public administration expert Niels Karsten, the leaking of a name is not that special, but the leaking of the application letter certainly is. “I don’t often see it leaking out. That makes it even more serious.”
It often happens that a candidate’s name is leaked. “I can name ten examples in the past few years, for example in Alkmaar, The Hague, Kerkrade or Nijmegen.” That does not alter the fact that it is punishable. “It is a crime and the maximum penalty is one year in prison or a fine of 25,000 euros. In addition, you will get a criminal record, so it is a serious violation.”
“There are very few people who have such a letter in their hands.”
What is special is that it concerns the application letter. “A job application letter is remarkable, because if all goes well there are very few people who have such a letter in their hands,” Karsten explains. “I don’t think it’s very likely that the paper was left on a printer. It looks and feels like a leak.” Although the public administration expert indicates that there cannot yet officially be said to be a leak if there is no perpetrator or evidence.
For now, a thorough investigation by the National Criminal Investigation Department will follow. “The Public Prosecution Service has the ability to literally force people out of their beds. Such an investigation takes months and usually yields nothing. A community service order was once imposed in the municipality of Stichtse Vecht. The perpetrator was found there by chance, because he took part in a telephone conversation that was under tap in another case. It was also successful in Den Bosch,” the administrative expert refers to the leak of Jan Hamming’s name in 2017.
Members of the confidential committee must hand in everything they put on paper.”
Karsten thinks it is very difficult to prevent a leak in the future. “So much has already been invested in it. Meetings are held at a secret location far away from the municipality. Members of the confidential committee have to hand in everything they put on paper. They don’t get anything to take home, but if people want to leak, they can.”
Remembering a name and then saying it is not that difficult. “The letter is a step further,” says the public administration expert. Leaking a name is something that candidates should take into account, according to Karsten. “I hope that Esmah Lahlah, especially in her position, was aware of the risk.”
The investigation must reveal whether there was a leak and who would have done it. Although it is expected that nothing will become clear for the time being.