(no subject)
I'm enfuriated enough with my government to drag out the journal again.
Last May, minister Verdonk of immigration declred that Ayaan Hirsi Ali, one of our members of parliament, was, in fact, not a Dutch citizen, since she had lied about her identity on her application. Her true name was Ayaan Hirsi Magan. Ali was her grandfather's name, rather than her father's. Hirsi Ali has been open about this subject for several years now. No one knows why it took this long for action to be taken, and the parliament objected. There are two additional notes: 1) there was some lack of clarity about Somalian law when it comes to names and whether or not Hirsi Ali might have been allowed to use her grandfather's name under Somalian law (Somalia being her country of origin) and 2) Verdonk failed to properly inform the rest of the government about her actions.
Verdonk stood by her decision in May. Or so she said. She declared she had no other choice. Except after that debate, she went and researched further. Yesterday, news came out that Hirsi Ali will be allowed to keep her Dutch nationality, since under Somalian law, she is allowed to carry the name Magan. The fact she also lied about her date of birth is suddenly irrelevant. Additionally, news came out that Hirsi Ali was told to sign a statement that she was fully at fault for misleading Verdonk. If she did that, things would be sorted out rapidly.
1) Hirsi Ali has't been misleading anyone for several years now. The statement is flat-out FALSE. 2) Even if it WERE true, the problem is not Verdonk being misinformed or making a wrong decision. It is with her deciding first, researching facts second. The statement is irrelevant. 3) There is so much wrong with essentially trading citizenship for a statement for political gain, I don't know where to start.
The debate is raging in the chamber as I'm writing this. Most likely, there will be a motion for impeachment. Most likely, it will not be passed, since impeachment would mean the government would fall, which would mean elections. The current governing parties are not doing wel in polls and thus don't want elections. The current governing parties have a majority in the parliament. Thus, the motion will be voted out, because impeaching a minister who is clearly not only malfunctioning, but *actively corrupt* would be politically inconvenient.
I am furious beyond words.
Last May, minister Verdonk of immigration declred that Ayaan Hirsi Ali, one of our members of parliament, was, in fact, not a Dutch citizen, since she had lied about her identity on her application. Her true name was Ayaan Hirsi Magan. Ali was her grandfather's name, rather than her father's. Hirsi Ali has been open about this subject for several years now. No one knows why it took this long for action to be taken, and the parliament objected. There are two additional notes: 1) there was some lack of clarity about Somalian law when it comes to names and whether or not Hirsi Ali might have been allowed to use her grandfather's name under Somalian law (Somalia being her country of origin) and 2) Verdonk failed to properly inform the rest of the government about her actions.
Verdonk stood by her decision in May. Or so she said. She declared she had no other choice. Except after that debate, she went and researched further. Yesterday, news came out that Hirsi Ali will be allowed to keep her Dutch nationality, since under Somalian law, she is allowed to carry the name Magan. The fact she also lied about her date of birth is suddenly irrelevant. Additionally, news came out that Hirsi Ali was told to sign a statement that she was fully at fault for misleading Verdonk. If she did that, things would be sorted out rapidly.
1) Hirsi Ali has't been misleading anyone for several years now. The statement is flat-out FALSE. 2) Even if it WERE true, the problem is not Verdonk being misinformed or making a wrong decision. It is with her deciding first, researching facts second. The statement is irrelevant. 3) There is so much wrong with essentially trading citizenship for a statement for political gain, I don't know where to start.
The debate is raging in the chamber as I'm writing this. Most likely, there will be a motion for impeachment. Most likely, it will not be passed, since impeachment would mean the government would fall, which would mean elections. The current governing parties are not doing wel in polls and thus don't want elections. The current governing parties have a majority in the parliament. Thus, the motion will be voted out, because impeaching a minister who is clearly not only malfunctioning, but *actively corrupt* would be politically inconvenient.
I am furious beyond words.