Is the Dutch Secret Service investigating MPs?

During a debate on the General Affairs budget in the Lower House of the Dutch States-General (Parliament), FVD MP Gideon van Meijeren confronted the prime minister, Dick Schoof, with an extremely worrying issue: the possibility that the AIVD, the Dutch secret services, are investigating MPs, specifically those from the opposition.

Van Meijeren pointed to the fact that under the Intelligence and Security Services Act, the AIVD is tasked with investigating individuals and organisations which may pose a threat to the democratic rule of law. He noted that a recent AIVD report identified certain narratives which criticise the government, such as the so-called ‘malign elite narratives,’ as potentially dangerous. He asked the minister explicitly whether this means that the AIVD is investigating MPs who voice these critical opinions.

Is the AIVD investigating MPs?
Prime Minister Schoof, however, avoided direct answers to these questions.  He stressed that the prime minister would not have a direct guiding role on the work of the AIVD, despite being able to give directions to the coordinator of the intelligence and security services. Schoof indicated that he could not comment on individual cases. But crucially, he also did not rule out the possibility of the AIVD investigating opposition members.

Van Meijeren replied that this was a serious threat to the democratic rule of law. If MPs can be investigated by the AIVD because of their political views, it raises fundamental questions about freedom of expression and the role of the secret service in the Netherlands.