The orthodox protestant Dutch political party SGP has criticised Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands for working on Sundays. Partyleader Mr. Bas van der Vlies, the longest serving member in the Dutch parliament, said in an interview Monday evening, that he 'regrets' the monarch is not keeping the Sunday 'holy'.
His criticism, coming from a traditionally pro-monarchy party (firm believers in the historical trinity of God, the Netherlands and the House of Orange, in Dutch: God, Nederland en Oranje), reverbrated through The Hague, even before the interview was shown on television. After previous criticism from the extreme-right party PVV, this was seen as another blow for Queen Beatrix.
Mr. Van der Vlies though, issued a statement saying he did not mean to attack the Queen as such. He was merely restating beliefs long held by his party and voters. The SGP has two seats in the 150 seat Second Chamber of the Dutch parliament.
"We do not want any member of government to undertake activities on a Sunday", a spokesman for the SGP-party clarified. "We do not make an exception for the Queen." The SGP takes the biblical admonition 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy' (Exodus 16:23) serious. The criticism extends to other members of the royal family.
Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife Princess Máxima last year started their official visit to the Kingdom of Bhutan on a Sunday. Next month their annual photocall in the Austrian skiresort of Lech is scheduled to take place on a Sunday.
SGP-leader Mr. Van der Vlies voiced disappointment in other aspects as well. He regrets support the queen has given to Gay Pride and the queen's apparent enthusiasm for further integration between member states of the European Union. © RB
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