GreenLeft-PvdA reports PVV MPs over Timmermans Death Threats

The fact that two members of parliament are spreading fake photographs of a colleague, provoking and allowing death threats against him is a "scandalous new low" in the parliamentary democracy," emeritus professor of constitutional law Paul Bovend'Eert told the paper.

"This not only affects Timmermans, it affects the authority of the parliament itself," he said. "If you have people walking around doing this sort of thing to a colleague, it will harm the dignity and reputation of the lower house of parliament. And this at a time when people's confidence in politics is already low."

He also said it was "incomprehensible" that PVV leader Geert Wilders, who has lived in safehouses under strict security for 21 years, has not ousted the two MPs.

If the men are prosecuted, they could face a prison sentence of two years for slander, privacy expert Bart Schermer said.

Neither Maikel Boon nor Patrick Crijns responded to questions from the Volkskrant but the Facebook page was taken down shortly after they were approached.

Geert Wilders, who had previously used content from the page on his X account, initially declined to comment but has since apologised to Timmermans. In a short message on social media he said the actions were "inappropriate and scandalous" but did not announce any measures against the MPs.