A district attorney and a former judge expressed concern about politicians’ conduct toward the judiciary and the rule of law. They pointed to a politician who called a judge a “fake judge” and to a member of parliament who threatened to press charges after a colleague made a judgment he disliked. District Attorney Willem Nijkerk said that pressing charges appeared to have become a way to attract attention, while former judge Aisha Dutrieux said politicians should recognize their exemplary role.

They questioned whether elected representatives understood the damage their actions could cause to the rule of law.