In an email to the 13,000 members of Volt – in the hands of De Telegraaf – the party board writes that Gündoğan is ‘unreasonably disadvantaged the party’. “She has completely set her own course. For example, it files reports against those who have reported transgressive behaviour, and then expands these reports. She also joins the television program Jinek without any coordination.”
On Thursday evening, Gündoğan told Jinek that she plans to return to the House of Representatives faction in The Hague on Monday. Party employees would have previously announced that they would call in sick en masse if Gündoğan would appear again at the group. With the expulsion, the party board makes it clear that Gündoğan can no longer work for Volt.
Volt rejects verdict
Volt thus rejects the judge’s verdict. According to the court in Amsterdam, Gündoğan was wrongly thrown out of the group last month. Volt accused Gündoğan of transgressive behavior, such as tapping on the buttocks and verbal tirades. However, the court ruled that the suspension and termination of her party membership were unjustified and should be revoked with immediate effect. The court advised Volt and Gündoğan to enter into mediation.
Party leader Laurens Dassen first said he respected the verdict, but is now coming back to it. Now that Volt is going to appeal, the question is whether Gündoğan can be denied access to the House of Representatives until the new trial. Gündoğan may continue as an independent Member of Parliament for the time being. On March 28, she is expelled by the party. The party thus gives Gündoğan ten days ‘to respond’.
Gündoğan votes on his own departure
Dassen and the party’s number 3 in the House of Representatives, Marieke Koekkoek, want to vote next Tuesday on ending Gündoğan’s party membership. Gündoğan may be present there, the party says. The group rules must be changed to make the expulsion of a Member of Parliament legally possible in the event of transgressive behaviour. Since Dassen and Koekkoek both want to get rid of Gündoğan, she has no chance in this vote. Volt has three seats in the Chamber.