"I think it’s quite sick, frankly,” said Sigrid Kaag, a former UN diplomat who until recently helmed Democrats 66 (D66), a progressive, socially liberal and pro-European party in the Netherlands. “The tone and the intimidation and the easy threats that are issued via social media against a broad range of people serving in the public domain … it’s become so rampant that I really feel it’s up to politicians to draw a line in the sand.”
Earlier this year Kaag, 61, announced she had decided to step down rather than lead her party in the Netherlands’ upcoming general elections. At the time she pointed to the toll that the years of “hate, intimidation and threats” had taken on her husband and children. “I just couldn’t do this to them again,” she said.
Her departure adds to the growing list of high-profile female politicians who have turned their backs on politics, from Finland’s Sanna Marin to Scotland’s Mhairi Black.
Kaag refused to help a woman with a sexual harrassment case against one of Kaag’s confidants, going so far as ignoring an independent inquiry into the matter that stated that the case was credible. She covered for her friend for months until the story broke.
Also, this is just kind of funny but it goes to show how deeply out of touch she is. When asked what challenges she had faced as a woman, she talked about the very difficult decision she had to make between two top-tier private universities. Really had it tough there huh. Really a struggle of the working woman. Boy howdy.
And Rutte. My god. This man is the source of so much evil, I can’t even begin to describe it. He broke our social security down and we will likely never build it up again. The poor are poorer and the netherlands is now a tax haven for the rich. Fuck Rutte. Every word out of his mouth is a blight upon this land. I spit on his legacy.
Also, didn’t Sturgeon commit like some serious fraud?
I know about Rutte and agree with what you’ve said. Recently I read he is ‘interested’ in a Nato job (Stoltenberg is about to retire soon), but I do hope they’ll find someone else.
Did’t know about Kaag, though. Thanks for the comments.