Presence of Prime Minister Rutte at second plenary debate MH17
The Dutch Parliament will have a second plenary debate on MH17. This debate will discuss the preliminary results of the criminal investigation by Joint Investigation Team into the downing of MH17.
JIT presented the first results during a press conference at September 28.
During a procedure meeting of the Commission for Foreign Affairs it was decided that the presence of Rutte was important and preferred , but the debate should be planned as soon as possible after the recess of the Parliament.
The plenary debate on MH17 is scheduled for October 26 16:00 but not set yet.
If Rutte agenda does not allow this presence, the priority is the date of the debate. Debate should not be postponed according VVD and PvdA.
However, on request by Member of Parliament Pieter Omtzigt of CDA during a Regeling van Werkzaamheden procedure in the Tweede Kamer at October 13, CDA requested the chairman of the Tweede Kamer that Rutte must attend the plenary debate.
Taken from the transcript of the Regeling van werkzaamheden debate.
Mevrouw Van Toorenburg (CDA):
En een tijdlijn!Nee, voorzitter. Maar in alle ernst, het is wel een belangrijk onderwerp dat Pieter Omtzigt hier vandaag wil bespreken. Hij zou u willen vragen om het debat dat we na het reces hebben over de MH17 — het tweede plenaire debat dat wij hierover voeren — te kunnen voeren in aanwezigheid van de minister-president. Dat verzoek zou ik graag aan de Kamer willen doen.
De heer Servaes (PvdA):
Voorzitter, ik weet dat dit plenair moet gebeuren. Er is in de procedurevergadering over gesproken. De commissie heeft de voorkeur uitgesproken voor de aanwezigheid van de minister-president. In die zin steun ik het verzoek. Ik zeg daar wel bij dat dit er niet toe mag leiden dat het debat op de lange baan wordt geschoven. Ik vind het dus uitstekend dat u als Kamervoorzitter de minister-president verzoekt om aanwezig te zijn, maar ik wil wel dat het debat blijft staan op de dag waar het op staat.
PvdA urged that the date of the plenary debate is fixed to October 26. A majority of the Parliament agreed with the request of Omtzigt. So the chairwoman of the Dutch Parliament will request Rutte to attend the debate.
Rutte will open a national summit at October 26 called “Nationaal Klimaattop“. The meeting is in Rotterdam. Rutte will open and do a talk. From 10:00 to 10:50 Rutte is occupied. Later in the morning there will be a press meeting. So in the morning Rutte will not be able to attend the MH17 plenary debate if held on October 26.
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Good to know.
A few inquiries about this, forgive my ignorance of NL government duties if I ask a question incorrectly.
-Is it expected to be televised or is it a private debate between NL Administration and NL Parliament?
-Will a JIT representative be participating to make official responses for the investigation group? Although Rutte is head cheese in NL, it does not necessarily mean he is privy to all that JIT has come up with.
– Have JIT or DSB asked the NL Parliament (legislature and oversight and minor foreign relations work) to do anything specific to help them?
Televised would not expect to hear any new info, probably some confirmation of what is follow up questions to JIT’s press conference.
Private debate might allow the Parliament to receive some non public info for NL Parliament to obtain. However, it would depend on a couple things
– security clearance of lowest level attendee affects what can be discussed
– whether or not JIT is attending. Although Rutte is administrator of NL gov’t he is not leader of or actual JIT member. Meaning Rutte cannot act as JIT spokesperson since he is not fully knowledgeable or briefed on EVERY aspect of the investigation.
– also will depend on whether or not a particular question was discussed within the NL Administration. Some questions may not have an answer at this point due to factors or conditions that have not occurred.
I hope Omtzigt gets the answers he is looking for.
I imagine part of the debate will center around what to do if Russia never delivers the radar data it claims it ‘found’.
Should leverage be used in only Diplomatic channels (Kremlin may just say no unless we get xyz)? Only Judicial court cases with resulting punishments (slower) ? Through media (Kremlin has shown its skill in manipulation in this area and its ways of scoring political points)?
I hope the administration can act more inclusive to the Parliament to be able to do the duties of Parliament.
But there may only so many things the Administration can ask the Parliament to do in relation to MH17 at this point.
Still a planning session that includes and informs Parliament would a good inclusive measure by Rutte.
NL needs a solid front IMHO at all levels of government for future challenges around MH17, especially if some serious topics will come into play as a result of the investigation.
ie – if it is found to be intentional, Parliament may need to begin the discussion of is war justified versus diplomatic or UN solutions.
They may be asked to vote regarding this.
Also the best venues for trial and extradition.
Also, with the JIT official statement of the BUK coming from and returning to Russia – does the Parliament or anyone have to make a statement or do any action about Russia actually being labeled as a belligerent with supplying lethal weapons in East Ukraine?
We all knew this, but I think EU nations have been very cautious about making that statement officially in the name of not trying to raise Cold War tensions even higher.
Even though Russia had already escalated the Cold War tensions with that supply and aggression inside Ukraine.
Do NL specific new sanctions and-or more enforcement of sanctions need to be done?
There are lots of very large issues regarding the MH17 incident on many factors.
Fare thee well
This is a public plenary debate in the Tweede Kamer. The debate can be visited by the public and can be watched live on internet and dedicated tv channel.
JIT will not be present. So there will no news on the criminal investigation. I suspect much of the discussion will be about sanctions based on the preliminary results of JIT.
There was a presentation planned by JIT for members of Parliament to prepare for the debate. However this was cancelled by the Minister of Justice and Safety.