Princess Laurentien and Her Foundations for Social Issues

[Somebody]

Monogram of Princess Laurentien of The Netherlands

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Over the years, princess Laurentien started various foundations addressing Social/Societal Issues. Her work involving these foundations may be discussed in this dedicated thread.

Number 5 Foundation: "solving complex social issues from and together with the people the issues concern. Our mission is therefore connecting for impact. We bring fragmented perspectives and initiatives together and facilitate dialogue to arrive at systemic solutions." [by both Constantijn & Laurentien]

Foundation for an Equal/a Dignified Recovery (Stichting (gelijk)waardig herstel): "A foundation by and for parents, young people and children who have been and will be affected by the childcare allowance affair. Together with independent experts, we work on (equal) dignified recovery. We stand for self-direction, trust, neutrality and collectivity."

Previously, she also started and was very active for:
Missing Chapter Foundation: "Missing Chapter is committed to child inclusion. Because children have a right to it and because their creative thinking makes decisions better."

As well as the Foundation for Reading and Writing, which has its own thread.

 

[Marengo]

​

An interesting and very positive article about Princess Laurentien in the Volkskrant (not usually a great fan of the RF).

Op de zolderkamer van prinses Laurentien vinden toeslagenouders steun: ‘Ze is een topwijf, niet normaal’

Apparently she is playing a mediating role in the settling of the Childcare benifits scandal. A scandal which has shocked the country as families were ruined by the tax office.

The parents call her a pillar of support and 'een topwijf, niet normaal' (how to translate that ).

The princess is actively involved in the matter. It started by some parents receiving the phone number of the princess. They called her, talked to her and she is now trying to help them. She does this with her (and her husband's) 'Number Five Foundation'. It is called number 5 for the adress of the office, wich is in a part of the house of Constantijn and Laurentien in The Hague.

Since last year the parents can use the attic of the office as a meeting room. They named their group 'De Zolderkamer' (the attic chamber). One of the parents tells that she has stayed the night in the office too, as she had to attend two days in a row of debates in parliament about the matter while having little money to spare on gasoline or hotels.

The organisation tries to ensure that parents can have more input in the settlement of the case. Princess Laurentien mediates meetings and co-wrote a report of the organisation last year, though she made sure her name was not mentioned in it. The report contained recomendations to the government in how to proceed. Before debates in parlament they have received leaders of the political parties in the foundation's kitchen, to discuss the case with a group of parents.

The princess tries to make sure that the parties understand each other. She sometimes intervenes: 'did you hear this?', 'do you understand that?'. The parents compare her to 'Switzerland', a neutral mediator between themselves and the authorities.

 

[Lee-Z]

An interesting and very positive article about Princess Laurentien in the Volkskrant (not usually a great fan of the RF).

https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-ac...teun-ze-is-een-topwijf-niet-normaal~bdfd8821/

Apparently she is playing a mediating role in the settling of the Childcare benifits scandal. A scandal which has shocked the country as families were ruined by the tax office.

The parents call her a pillar of support and 'een topwijf, niet normaal' (how to translate that ).

The princess is actively involved in the matter. It started by some parents receiving the phone number of the princess. They called her, talked to her and she is now trying to help them. She does this with her (and her husband's) 'Number Five Foundation'. It is called number 5 for the adress of the office, wich is in a part of the house of Constantijn and Laurentien in The Hague.

Since last year the parents can use the attic of the office as a meeting room. They named their group 'De Zolderkamer' (the attic chamber). One of the parents tells that she has stayed the night in the office too, as she had to attend two days in a row of debates in parliament about the matter while having little money to spare on gasoline or hotels.

The organisation tries to ensure that parents can have more input in the settlement of the case. Princess Laurentien mediates meetings and co-wrote a report of the organisation last year, though she made sure her name was not mentioned in it. The report contained recomendations to the government in how to proceed. Before debates in parlament they have received leaders of the political parties in the foundation's kitchen, to discuss the case with a group of parents.

The princess tries to make sure that the parties understand each other. She sometimes intervenes: 'did you hear this?', 'do you understand that?'. The parents compare her to 'Switzerland', a neutral mediator between themselves and the authorities.

Indeed a very hands-on role for P.Laurentien, a real support for the parents involved (have to say Laurentien is probably my fave of the dutch RF by now ?)

 

[Tatiana Maria]

An interesting and very positive article about Princess Laurentien in the Volkskrant (not usually a great fan of the RF).

https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-ac...teun-ze-is-een-topwijf-niet-normaal~bdfd8821/

Apparently she is playing a mediating role in the settling of the Childcare benifits scandal. A scandal which has shocked the country as families were ruined by the tax office.

The parents call her a pillar of support and 'een topwijf, niet normaal' (how to translate that ).

The princess is actively involved in the matter. It started by some parents receiving the phone number of the princess. They called her, talked to her and she is now trying to help them. She does this with her (and her husband's) 'Number Five Foundation'. It is called number 5 for the adress of the office, wich is in a part of the house of Constantijn and Laurentien in The Hague.

Since last year the parents can use the attic of the office as a meeting room. They named their group 'De Zolderkamer' (the attic chamber). One of the parents tells that she has stayed the night in the office too, as she had to attend two days in a row of debates in parliament about the matter while having little money to spare on gasoline or hotels.

The organisation tries to ensure that parents can have more input in the settlement of the case. Princess Laurentien mediates meetings and co-wrote a report of the organisation last year, though she made sure her name was not mentioned in it. The report contained recomendations to the government in how to proceed. Before debates in parlament they have received leaders of the political parties in the foundation's kitchen, to discuss the case with a group of parents.

The princess tries to make sure that the parties understand each other. She sometimes intervenes: 'did you hear this?', 'do you understand that?'. The parents compare her to 'Switzerland', a neutral mediator between themselves and the authorities.

Thanks for the summary. It sounds as if a neutral mediator was sorely needed and a respected and accomplished public figure such as Princess Laurentien seems ideal to serve as one.

I wonder how the work sits with her position as a member of the Royal House subject to ministerial responsibility. Would she have been obliged to seek permission from the government to be involved in a political matter? While neutrality is appropriate and necessary as a member of the nonpartisan Royal House, can a princess under the government's ministerial responsibility function as a neutral party in a matter which involves government authorities?

 

[Somebody]

Good question. Given that this is not a political issue (in the sense that it divides people) and the families have already been received by the king himself, it seems that she can be a mediator in helping to arrange a fair outcome. Currently, almost everyone is convinced a solution is needed but in practice it seems really hard to achieve a righteous outcome for each and every one of the families, so I think both the parents and the authorities appreciate her help. But I do think, it was discussed with the government before she took it on. At least, that seems smart in this case.

 

[iceflower]

Today, November 12, Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien together with their Number Five Foundation attended the opening of 'Number 90', a new meeting place in Almere for victims, civil servants, lawyers, social services and other parties involved in the allowance affair (the Dutch childcare benefits scandal). The Number Five Foundation has supported the creation of the meeting place:


** Pic ** omroepflevoland.nl video: 'Huiskamer' voor gedupeerden toeslagenaffaire geopend **


** rtl video: Prinses Laurentien en prins Constantijn openhartig over obstakels in relatie **

 

[Marengo]

The government have accepted the proposal of Princess Laurentien to help the victims of the child benifit scandal.

https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-ac...voor-snellere-schadevergoeding-over~bd61ebf8/

The financial compensation of the victims is a long and frustrating process. Laurentien came with a proposal to make it easier by allocating a normative amount of financial compensation for a type of damage. Parents are no longer obliged to show prove that the damage -f.e. the forced sale of a house- was caused by the issue.

The prince was helped by experts from insurance companies Achmea and Aegon.

-
In this mornings political podcast of the Volkskrant the presentors praised the princess for her ongoing role. The proposal can only have been made with the knowledge and blessing of the Prime Minister.

 

[Somebody]

An extremely generous method developed by a Foundation started by and with active involvement of princess Laurentien (called 'the Laurentien method') to compensate the 'benefit parents' (a term used for those who were unfairly cut in their government allowances) is likely to cost the Dutch tax payers an additional 5 billion euros. Parents are even compensated (the average amount is 128.000 EURO) if the got a letter telling them they would be cut but ended up not being cut at all. So, while everyone in 'political The Hague' agrees that compensation needs to be given, the total costs are getting out of hand according to a secret note by the Ministry of Finance.

Herstel toeslagenaffaire dreigt ongekende strop te worden: nog 5 miljard extra

Op de werkvloer bij de Dienst Toeslagen bestaan grote twijfels over de hoge bedragen die naar gedupeerden gaan.

nos.nl

 

[Somebody]

The state secretary responsible for the handling of the benefits affairs says in response to the revelations in the article mentioned above that the 'Laurentien method' is still in a pilot phase. At the end of the month a decision will be made on continuation. However, others point out that money has already been reserved to continue this pilot on a much larger scale.

Kabinet: 'Methode Laurentien' herstel toeslagen nog geen uitgemaakte zaak

Gisteren bleek dat er een miljardenstrop bij de hersteloperatie dreigt.

nos.nl

 

[Marengo]

Heaps of praise were piled on the princess last year for this initiative. But that seems to have passed.We will se ehow it will play out.

 

[Somebody]

The risk of becoming involved in a real political issue (as in an issue created by politics)...

 

[Somebody]

Tomorrow the government will discuss the pilot by Princess Laurentien's foundation to decide whether they will continue that route to compensate benefit parents generously for serious mistakes made by government agencies or whether it will be ended because of the expected much higher costs associated with it.

Of course, even if this government decide to continue (or end), the next government which is expected to be sworn in about a month could decide differently.

Stichting Laurentien en ministerie overhoop over toeslagenaffaire, morgen besluit kabinet

De bedragen die de Stichting Gelijkwaardig Herstel uitkeert moeten navolgbaar zijn en uit te leggen aan andere ouders en de belastingbetaler, zeggen bronnen bij Financiën.

nos.nl

 

[Somebody]

The cabinet decided that they want to continue the 'Laurentien Method' but wants to build in some safeguards before doing so - as currently there are worries that the method isn't fair to others going through a different route to get compensated. They also stress that the new coalition will have to approve the adapted method.

The NOS article also includes a video of a very emotional Laurentien (mixing up her prepositions) with a message for the 'benefit parents': Kabinet: pas door met 'methode-Laurentien' na aanpassingen

 

[Marengo]

I have been reading that the civil servant leaks of the previous week has been incorrect. The method of Laurentien and foundation is not more expensive at all. It seems they wanted to tarnish Laurentien’s reputation to make the ministery look less incompetent.

What the case does show is that active members of the RF should stay away from politically sensitive dossiers.

 

[Somebody]

I have been reading that the civil servant leaks of the previous week has been incorrect. The method of Laurentien and foundation is not more expensive at all. It seems they wanted to tarnish Laurentien’s reputation to make the ministery look less incompetent.

What the case does show is that active members of the RF should stay away from politically sensitive dossiers.

I'm not so sure that the method of Laurentien's foundation is not more expensive. The foundation makes some claims but the secretary of state is still concerned about the difference between those being compensated through the Laurentien method versus those compensated in other ways. So, I guess the truth is somewhere in the middle: it isn't as expensive as the ministry claimed but it is likely more expensive than other methods.

However, as you correctly point out, while this might have seemed a relatively uncontroversial -while political- issue (it seems everyone wants a solution), any political issue can turn out complicated and still result in partisan views, so indeed something that members of the royal family should be very careful about when getting themselves involved.

 

[Marengo]

Laurentien and the cabinet have made peace, says the national press. Her foundation to help the victims of the child benifit scandal can continue (after it was paused in May). The pilot was stopped as the compensation for the victims was deemed 'too generous' by the ministery.

It is now agreed that damages suffered before the scandal will nto be paid for by the state, thus reducing the overall costs. The wish to let the princess continue her work was supported by nearlt the entire parlament. All parties except Wilders PVV (extreme right, currently the largest party and part of the coalition government) supported a motion of the Christian Union to let the foundation resume its good work this summer.

‘Methode-Laurentien’ voor afhandeling toeslagschandaal kan worden hervat

De stichting van prinses Laurentien heeft een overeenkomst gesloten met het nieuwe kabinet en kan doorgaan met het afhandelen van de schade voor toeslagenouders. In mei had het demissionaire kabinet de ‘methode-Laurentien’ stopgezet, wat hen op veel kritiek kwam te staan.

www.volkskrant.nl

Akkoord over versobering 'methode-Laurentien' voor toeslagenouders

De Stichting Gelijkwaardig Herstel mag door met het helpen van gedupeerden, maar de uitkeringen moeten voortaan wel "uitlegbaar" zijn.

nos.nl

 

[Marengo]

According to the Algemeen Dagblad, Princess Laurentien is accused of transgressive behavior towards civil servants of the ministery of finance. 'Emotions somtimes run high' according to several of them who felt she treated them badly. Apparently there are 8 reports. It is not known if these were by the same people or if it was one incident reported by 8.

Meldingen van grensoverschrijdend gedrag door prinses Laurentien op ministerie

Bij de ambtelijke top van het ministerie van Financiën zijn ‘meerdere’ meldingen binnengekomen over prinses Laurentien waarbij ‘de emoties weleens zijn opgelopen’ over haar optreden. Prinses Laurentien zou ambtenaren onbehoorlijk hebben bejegend. Dat blijkt uit onderzoek van deze site. Naar...

www.ad.nl

The ministery now confirms that there have been problems. Soruces tell the newspaper about a pattern of intimidation and a work culture of fear. Incidents were reported but nothing changed.

Comments on social media are widely supportive of the princess and blame frustrated civil servants taking revenge. It was the ministery itself who has ruined lives of many victims in the child benifit scandal,.

 

[Somebody]

According to a reporter it was widely known that princess Laurentien doesn’t take no for an answer and will make it very clear if she doesn’t agree - which was not appreciated by the previous cabinet.

Her foundation issued a statement that the reports are off-base, so again Laurentien is on the attack when her ideas or way of going about things are challenged.

Personally I am worried that there is more truth to it than she wants to admit. Time for the king to get involved (in the background of course) and keep her in-check.

 

[Marengo]

The timing gives some the impression that a group of civil servants tried to get rid of her earlier on. And when her foundation was cleared they now try to get rid of her this way. In the mean time not one civil servant has been fired over this scandal / which ruined the lives of many people. The same happened to former chairwoman of parlament Kadija Arib - a whisper campaign of civil servants and she was out.

We have a weak government, a weak prime minister, weak ministers and a weak parlament now. So the ministeries can for a large part do as they please. Apart from the usual populist charlatan politicians screaming outrage very little will actually get done. Much of the new ministers -from new parties without much experience- seem clueless and beyond incompetent.

Having that said it is an impossible position for the court to be in. She should drop her work for the foundation, even if it is just an attempt at character assassination. The monarchy should not and can not be involved in such controversies.

The next days/weeks will be interesting. I am sure more will leak, it always does.

 

[Somebody]

That's most likely indeed part of the story. It has clearly become somewhat of a battle between the ministry and Laurentien's foundation... Not a healthy situation for a member of the royal house.

This part by the reporter, however, indicates that it is not just a few disgruntled civil servants:

No one in The Hague doubts the good intentions of the princess. But there have been rumors for some time that Laurentien made it clear when she disagreed with something. Even in the recent caretaker cabinet this led to considerable irritation.

The foundation openly going on the attack both this time and when their method was challenged does show an assertive (bordering on aggressive) know-it-all attitude.

 

[Marengo]

Considering the absolute mess the [previous] government, ministery, high ranking civil servants and ministers have made of this particular dossier I imagine many people will be thankful the Princess actually did get angry and did disagree with the appaling, slow and cold hearted way the ministery has tried to solve this dossier. As said: none of those at the ministery have taken any responsibility at all. They have driven people into suicide, have had people losing their homes and jobs, children taken out of custudy of their own parents.... but somehow nobody even gets repirmanded. Nobody is responsible. We can only wish the civil servants would be as dedicated to fixing what the ministery did wrong as they are in vilifying the reputation of the Princess - anonimously.

But you are right of course, for a normal foundation with a normal CEO challenging the ministery is perhaps less problematic. For Laurentien -whose actions fall under the responsibility of the prime minister- it is a different question. It is the government going against the government, which is rather unorthodox. Though we have seen worse cases lately: the leader of the VVD party going against government policies while being a member of the same government as minister of Justice.

For what it is worth: Gert-Jan Segers, former leader of the Christian Union party and now involved with Laurentien’s foundation, says that the comments are “misplaced”. “This doesn’t do justice to her, it is not how we know her or how she works. We are disappointed in anonymous civil servants, who are more occupied with spreading slanderous accusations than they are working on the restoration of justice to the [victims].”

Ambtenaren melden grensoverschrijdend gedrag van prinses Laurentien

Het ministerie schrijft in een reactie dat "de emoties wel eens zijn opgelopen" en dat daar verschillende meldingen over zijn gedaan.

nos.nl

 

[Somebody]

More information in a NOS-article: the oral reports are related to name calling, not tolerating contradiction, raised voices, slamming doors and emotional responses, including tears (by the princess).

Hoe de methode-Laurentien de kwestie-Laurentien werd: onbehagen over de prinses

De schoonzus van koning Willem-Alexander probeert de toeslagenouders te helpen, maar de samenwerking met Financiën verloopt soms moeizaam.

nos.nl

 

[Marengo]

I suppose that this could be explained as agressive by thos who were at the receiving end. But his surely is not the complete story. Why did the princess behave in such a way? How did the civil servants actually stand in the way of a sollution? Did she too walk against a wall of incompetance, rigidity, bureaucracy, and civil servants more commited to save the reputation of the ministery than to solving this problem.

Although I can believe she may have misbehaved this account is far too one sided to be credible as the whole story. One simply doesn't go into a meeting with slamming doors, insults and tears.

They seem to be stuck in their own web of bureaucracy so I salute any attempt to get the machine moving to find some form of compensation within the lifetimes of the victims.

The way this has been leaked is downright scandalous and a clear attempt at character assassination of somebody who they deem too difficult, after their previous attempt to shut down Laurentien's foundation failed. As said above, the civil service (not of this ministery) succesfully did the exact same thing with Kadija Arib, also a 'difficult' woman apparently.

The real problem is not Laurentien slamming with doors -if she indeed was. The real problem is that she is needed at all and that the ministery itself -with 25.000 employees- has not found a way to solve this issue which they themselves have created. That is the real scandal and perhaps they and the media should focus their energies on that instead.

 

[SOS]

Why is the Princess so heavily involved in this political issue? Perhaps this is exactly why royals shouldn't be meddling in politics to begin with.

I don't get it either. The king and the former prime minister really messed up. I wonder how the new prime minister will fix this.

 

[Somebody]

What should the king have done differently in this area? It would have been an enormous overreach had he tried to get himself involved in fixing this highly-political issue (he did receive parents that were duped and listened to their stories, most likely encouraged the PM to find a solution but there is not much more he could have done imho); much worse than princess Laurentien now trying to do so.

When Laurentien started, the general thought was that this issue needed fixing; even these days nobody questions her intentions. The problem is more the way she goes about things. My take is that members of the royal family are used to things going their way, so have a hard time dealing with opposition (independent of who is right or wrong or if there is even a right or wrong). These days that apparently can lead to discussions of their 'assertive' behavior if this takes place in certain contexts.

 

[tommy100]

I think there is more to this than we know. I agree Laurentine shouldn't have got as involved - maybe once it got to the working with the ministry she should have taken a step back and allowed the foundation staff and ministry staff to achieve it together - it also would have allowed her to be kept in reserve to help smooth things over if needs be.

Sounds to me that Laurentine came up against civil servants who are use to getting their own way and so resented her foundation and her being allowed to run with their ideas. Sounds like they all need to be a little more professional but I think it reflects just as badly on the civil servants as Laurentine IMO.

But yes, better all round if she'd stepped away - or to one side - earlier.

 

[SOS]

What should the king have done differently in this area? It would have been an enormous overreach had he tried to get himself involved in fixing this highly-political issue (he did receive parents that were duped and listened to their stories, most likely encouraged the PM to find a solution but there is not much more he could have done imho); much worse than princess Laurentien now trying to do so.

When Laurentien started, the general thought was that this issue needed fixing; even these days nobody questions her intentions. The problem is more the way she goes about things. My take is that members of the royal family are used to things going their way, so have a hard time dealing with opposition (independent of who is right or wrong or if there is even a right or wrong). These days that apparently can lead to discussions of their 'assertive' behavior if this takes place in certain contexts.

Yeah. She probably has good intentions but she's not spending her own money. She's spending taxpayers money. And if you spend taxpayers money, you will get questions. I do think that officials sometimes spend way more on advice than on the actual problem, so I do like her approach, but the over-the-top assertive behavior is out of line. It shouldn't been my way or the highway.

 

[Marengo]

Jimmy Dijk, leader of the Socialist Party -one of the few republican parties- has thrown in his voice to defend the Princess.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1821485702493753648

Note that his party was essensial in uncovering the scandal, together with the leader of a spin-off party of the Christian Democrats.

He cites the foundation's statements in the Algemeen Dagblad. They say that parents/victims recognise the same pattern now as the one they had to deal with during and after the scandal. A pattern of abuse of power, false alligations and having to prove innocence repeatedly. he adds the remark: 'Go and solve problems of people who have been in misery for years. Many proposals have been made to improve the sollutions for the parents. The ministery itself did little to nothing. The SGH [foundation of Laurentien] does bring solutions that make people feel seen and heard. There is a lot to learn from that'.

From the article it is interesting to note that from February onwards the princess only dealt with the director general of Benifits, the secretary general of the ministery and the state secretary (under minister). Supposedly to protect the rest of the civil servants from her `mood swings` [one onder if there were any women among the civil servants using that terminology btw but as they were anonimous we will never know].

The article claims that as Laurentien is a member of the royal house, the civil servants could not file an official complaint and only did so unoficially and verbally. The foundation says that this is untrue. They point out nobody in the country is free of that and they could have filed a complaint. They also point out that due to her position it is difficult for the princess to defend herself.
IMO I do feel that an ordinary civil servants will indeed think twice or thrice before complaining about the Princess oficially, esp. when they still have their carreers to think of.

Although my sympathy is not with the ministery, we simply can not have a member of the RF involved in this, all the good intentions -and results- nonwithstanding.

One wonders if and when the new prime minister will step in. Although he is not an experienced politician he certainly was one of the most experienced and senior civil servants we have. The same goes for the King: he is the head of his house and although it may be painful this simply can not continue. For now, as the article notes, the dossier stays on the plate of the underminister of Finance, Nora Achachbar.

The ministery can pat itself on the back for a hitjob well orchestrated. Let's hope they will show the same dedication to solving this matter, which they have been unable and unwilling to do for several years now.

 

[SOS]

Jimmy Dijk, leader of the Socialist Party -one of the few republican parties- has thrown in his voice to defend the Princess.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1821485702493753648

Note that his party was essensial in uncovering the scandal, together with thee leader of a spin-off party of the Christian Democrats.

He cites the foundation's statements in the Algemeen Dagblad. They say that parents/victims recognise the same pattern now as the one they had to deal with during and after the scandal. A pattern of abuse of power, false alligations and having to prove innocence repeatedly. he adds the remark: 'Go and solve problems of people who have been in misery for years. Many proposals have been made to improve the sollutions for the parents. The ministery itself did little to nothing. The SGH [foundation of Laurentien] does bring solutions that make people feel seen and heard. There is a lot to learn from that'.

From the article it is interesting to note that from February onwards the princess only dealt with the director general of Benifits, the secretary general of the ministery and the state secretary (under minister). Supposedly to protect the rest of the civil servants from her `mood swings` [one onder if there were any women among the civil servants using that terminology btw but as they were anonimous we will never know].

The article claims that as Laurentien is a member of the royal house, the civil servants could not file an official complaint and only did so unoficially and verbally. The foundation says that this is untrue. They point out nobody in the country is free of that and they could have filed a complaint. They also point out that due to her position it is difficult for the princess to defend herself.
IMO I do feel that an ordinary civil servants will indeed think twice or thrice before complaining about the Princess oficially, esp. when they still have their carreers to think of.

Although my sympathy is not with the ministery, we simply can not have a member of the RF involved in this, all the good intentions -and results- nonwithstanding.

One wonders if and when the new prime minister will step in. Although he is not an experienced politician he certainly was one of the most experienced and senior civil servants we have. The same goes for the King: he is the head of his house and although it may be painful this simply can not continue. For now, as the article notes, the dossier stays on the plate of the underminister of Finance, Nora Achachbar.

The ministery can pat itself on the back for a hitjob well orchestrated. Let's hope they will show the same dedication to solving this matter, which they have been unable and unwilling to do for several years now.

I agree with this. I wonder what the king and the new prime minister will do. The new under minister seems quite capable tbh and also wants to solve this matter as soon as possible.

 

[Marengo]

Let's hope so. We have had capable under ministers before though. And I am sure the majority of civil servants also wished this issue to be resolved. But somehow there is a wall of bureaucracy that even they can not get through and the ministery will almost automatically fall into the spasm to defend the ministery. We have seen this in other dossiers too.

Anyway, the commentary in the newspapers seems to be in agreement: the Princess will need to lay down her responsibilities while her foundation should be able to continue. The (previous) prime minister should never have allowed her to get involved in such a way to start with.

Prinses Laurentien opnieuw in opspraak: ‘Heel onverstandig dat ze zich met de toeslagenaffaire bemoeit’

Er is opnieuw ophef ontstaan over prinses Laurentien vanwege haar betrokkenheid bij de afhandeling van de toeslagenaffaire. Kunnen leden van het koningshuis wel politiek gevoelige functies bekleden? ‘De premier had deze functie moeten ontraden.’

www.trouw.nl

In 'Het oog op morgen' a comparison is made with Prince Claus, who was forced to lay down his function at development aid due to political controversies.

https://podcast.npo.nl/feed/met-het-oog-op-morgen.xml

The emeritus professor that is interviewed thinks the new prime minister should convince the princess to step down, though there is no elegant way out at this point anymore.

-

A lawyer for several of the victims defens the princess on Eén Vandaag. Suzanne Arakelyan says: "I can well imagine that Laurentien has become frustrated about the way things are going, because so am I, every day. And when you really see what happens in practice, how parents are treated and how things are going and what kind of legal violence is done, then you can get frustrated about that. But I don't think she was intimidating."

According to the lawyer, the ministry quickly finds people who disagree with her "aggressive or intimidating." She continues: "And if you stand up for the interests of parents, then those interests sometimes conflict with the interests of the ministry. And that doesn't always turn out very well and they don't like that."

She says that there were complaints about her own behavior too: "People thought I came across as intimidating and that my tone was not good. I think that I stand up for the interests of my clients and that I should be clear about that. And I absolutely do not recognize myself in being intimidating towards the employees".