Editorials in Politically
Correct Position on Death Penalty

Editorial opinion over the remarks of caretaker Minister Hilbrand Nawijn at Integration and Alien Affairs is filled with the same indignation which Nawijn met from the opposition parties in the Lower House. Given that, on average, 37% to 43% of the Dutch population would want the death penalty, there is no attempt by mainline editorials to justify why the Netherlands does not adopt the death penalty.

De Telegraaf

De Telegraaf, for instance, points out that it is a serious and sensitive issue. All the more reason, one would believe, to conduct a national discussion over the death penalty. De Telegraaf, however, says the minister is irresponsible in raising the subject, especially as a side issue in a magazine interview.

The editorial also says Nawijn does not favour a discussion, but that is not what Nawijn said during the television programme Nova on Wednesday evening the 19th of November. According to De Telegraaf, "Instead of a discussion over the death penalty, what is needed is a debate over higher sentences, the introduction of a minimum sentence and actual life imprisonment for serious criminal offenses".

Algemeen Dagblad

Algemeen Dagblad opens its editorial by saying Nawijn has, "a greater eye for opinion polls than for his responsibility as minister". Nawijn, says the editorial, was simply feeding existing fears in society over risks from criminal activity. Nawijn is accused by the editorial of failing to take the necessary precautions in opening such a debate. "Instead, he chose to play with the feelings of people".

In defense of outlawing capital punishment, the editorial in the Algemeen Dagblad says mistakes can always be made in the judicial process whereby an innocent person may be sentenced to death and, on evidence from the United States, the death penalty is not a deterrent to the commission of violent crimes.

A civilization based on an, "eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth", says Algemeen Dagblad, is not worth much. The job of a minister, moreover, "must be to explain why capital punishment is not the rule in the Netherlands but not to undermine this position".

De Volkskrant

De Volkskrant asserts that Nawijn knew, "as a politician", that his argument on behalf of the death penalty was at crosspoints with almost all political parties including the Lijst Pim Fortuyn". That he made the statement, says De Volkskrant, shows up Nawijn for what he is, a, "...right-wing populist who is hunting for votes". Moreover, Nawijn has gone farther in this direction, says the editorial, than the original founder of the Party, Pim Fortuyn.

De Volkskrant also puts arguments why the Netherlands has done away with capital punishment. It is, "an inhumane punishment", and always, "carries the risk innocent persons will die". Again, there is no evidence the use of capital punishment in the United States acts as a preventive measure.

The upshot of the whole affairs, says De Volkskrant, is that if the Liberals and the Christian Democrats do form a coalition government after 22 January, they, "...must be certain not to cooperate with LPF in a new Cabinet".

NRC Handelsblad

And what does the NRC Handelsblad make of the affair? The editorial accepts results of surveys which show some 40% of the population would support the reintroduction of the death penalty. The editorial then says, "That is not so difficult, since there is, in fact, no choice. The Netherlands wrote off the death penalty in 1870". Mr Nawijn is certainly aware of this fact, as well as the fact, "...the Netherlands, in an European context, has confirmed this, even in exceptional cases".

The NRC Handelsblad also refers to the possibility innocent persons may die under capital punishment and that support for the death penalty in the United States is waning not only because of the possibility an innocent person may be put to death, but also because the practice is applied on the basis of "discrimination". The United States, says the editorial, finds itself, with respect to capital punishment, in the company of the Peoples Republic of China and the Islamic Republic of Iran

All in all, the remarks by Nawijn may be reduced, says the NRC editorial, to a, "cheap election stunt". Given an earlier indiscretion of Nawijn with regard to ministerial responsibility, wherein he urged for the deportation of Moroccans who repeatedly commit crimes, the NRC Handelsblad believes Nawijn should resign as minister. 20 November 2002