Brussels court rejects bid to suspend Rutte's NATO appointment
The Dutch-speaking court of first instance in Brussels has rejected a Dutchman's bid to suspend Mark Rutte's appointment as NATO secretary general, the court confirmed on Wednesday.
Karim Aachboun, a Dutch tax expert and legal adviser, wanted Rutte's appointment suspended because he has two civil lawsuits pending against the former Dutch prime minister.
Mark Rutte was elected as NATO's new secretary general on 26 June. Prior to his election, Aachboun had sued Rutte in The Netherlands to hold him personally liable for the Dutch child benefit scandal and for the death of a Dutch woman in the Gaza Strip in October 2023.
Immunity
The Dutch child benefit scandal involved false accusations of benefit fraud against around 26,000 parents in the Netherlands between 2005 and 2019. Aachboun has accused Rutte of being complicit in the death of a Dutch woman in Gaza because the Netherlands has supplied Israel with parts for the F-35 fighter jets used to bomb the area.
Aachboun argued that he might not be able to enforce a judgment in his favour against Rutte because the latter could invoke his immunity as NATO secretary general and transfer all his assets to Belgium. He therefore asked the Brussels court to suspend Rutte's appointment as head of NATO until the Dutch proceedings are decided.
'Admissible but unfounded'
The court declared that it did not have jurisdiction over Aachboun's claims against NATO, said spokeswoman Geneviève Seressia. The Dutchman's claims against Rutte were declared "admissible but unfounded".
Aachboun said the court had ruled that Rutte's right to immunity and the risk of reputational damage outweighed his right to a fair trial against Rutte, adding that he had appealed the decision.
© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND
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