The man who shot dead politician Pim Fortuyn dead in a car park 12 years ago is to be released a few days before the anniversary of the killing.
Volkert van der Graaf’s freedom will be subject to strict conditions, including a ban on contacting Fortuyn’s relatives, talking to the media or visiting the scene of the crime. The last restriction will be enforced by satellite tracking.
The 44-year-old is eligible for early release after serving two-thirds of an 18-year sentence for murdering Fortuyn on May 6, 2002, at the media centre in Hilversum.
Junior justice minister Fred Teeven confirmed his release date of May 2 as well as the special conditions in a letter to Parliament on Wednesday.
Van der Graaf will be electronically monitored using GPS technology to ensure he does not visit Fortuyn’s home city of Rotterdam, The Hague or Hilversum. He is also banned from the residences of Fortuyn and his family.
The murder of the charismatic populist politician nine days before the 2002 Parliamentary elections sent a shockwave through the Dutch political system that is still being felt. His party, LPF, rose from nowhere to become the second largest group in Parliament and joined the coalition government, but collapsed in on itself within months, forcing new elections the following January.
Van der Graaf’s release conditons include an obligation to work with a psychologist or psychiatrist and report to the rehablitation service on a weekly basis.
The prison where Van der Graaf has been held decided there were no grounds to keep him in custody, he was not suffering from a psychiatric disorder and the chances of him reoffending were very low.
Teeven said he believed the prosecution service (OM) had considered its decision “carefully and conscientiously”. “I have informed the Lower House that I share the conclusions of the public prosecution service that it would not be appropriate to delay or refuse the conditional release of Volkert van der G.,” said the minister.
A majority of MPs backed the decision on the basis that politicians should not interfere in court cases. D66 member Magda Berndsen said: “Sooner or later prisoners return to society, so it is a good thing if it is done carefully and with conditions attached.”
The Freedom Party (PVV) of Geert Wilders was a dissenting voice, calling for a Parliamentary debate with Teeven. In a statement the party said: “The murderer of Pim Fortuyn has not served the whole of the sentence that was imposed on him.”
Teeven was thwarted in an earlier attempt to stop Van der Graaf being allowed out of prison under supervision before his release as part of the rehabilitation process.
His right-wing Liberal (VVD) party has said it wants to change the law to end the automatic release of prisoners after they have served two-thirds of their jail term.
Fortuyn’s brother Marten said he accepted the decision and noted the “strict” conditions of Van der Graaf’s release.
He said: “I think it’s good that he has to report on a weekly basis. Van der G. is banned from contacting us. But if he indicates that he wants to speak with me, I’m open to the idea.
“I would be keen to know why he killed my brother, in an honest and proper discussion. Even today I still don’t know.”