Interim-premier Stanley Betrian declared yesterday that Van Rijn was denied access. The paid vacation of Van Rijn was coming to an end and she wanted to resume work. However, Betrian requested her to wait at least one week until the interim-cabinet was ready, or else he was forced to deny her access. Van Rijn was thus denied access but she didn’t accept this. She wants to resume work. “Betrian has no lawful reason to deny me access”, said Van Rijn. A reason wasn’t even given. Betrian supposedly stated before certain media that Van Rijn was denied access owing to her alleged political color.

 

With that he contravenes the National Regulation Material Civil Servants Right (Landsverordening Materieel Ambtenarenrecht - LMA) in which the rights and obligations of public servants are laid down. At the request of interim-premier Betrian, Van Rijn is at home on paid leave since the installation of the interim-cabinet early October.

 

 

“As long as an official fulfills his/her obligations loyally, one cannot proclaim a disciplinary measure”, said Van Rijn. “I will therefore request the judge to declare the access denial invalid.”

 

As highest official – secretary general – Van Rijn is final responsible person for the management of the ministry. She coordinates the unity of policy, the implementation, the setting of priorities and gearing with the minister-president. Officially the (party) political color of the secretary general doesn’t play a role.

 

However, interim-premier Stanley Betrian stated yesterday that Van Rijn was actually requested to go on holidays when he became minister-president exactly because of her party political color. After her holiday was over Betrian asked Van Rijn to stay at home and not appear at work, he said yesterday. “When she indicated she would appear at work anyway, I denied her access to the building”, said Betrian.