Artikel 119: Official misconduct

Artikel 119

Present and former members of the States General, Ministers and State Secretaries shall be tried by the Supreme Court for offences committed while in
office. Proceedings shall be instituted by Royal Decree or by a resolution of the Lower House.

In andere talen:

English

Present and former members of the States General, Ministers and State Secretaries shall be tried by the Supreme Court for offences committed while in
office. Proceedings shall be instituted by Royal Decree or by a resolution of the Lower House.

Français

Les membres des États généraux, les ministres et les secrétaires d'État sont jugés pour forfaiture par la Cour suprême, même après la cessation de leurs fonctions. Les poursuites sont ordonnées par décret royal ou par une résolution de la Seconde Chambre.

Deutsch

Die Mitglieder der Generalstaaten, die Minister und die Staatssekretäre werden wegen Verbrechen im Amte, auch nach ihrem Rücktritt, vor dem Hohen Rat zur Verantwortung gezogen. Die Anordnung zur Verfolgung wird durch königlichen Erlass oder durch Beschluss der Zweiten Kammer gegeben.

Español

Los miembros de los Estados Generales, los Ministros y los Secretarios de Estado comparecerán, incluso después de haber cesado en sus funciones, ante el Tribunal Supremo y serán procesados por éste por delitos cometidos en el ejercicio de sus respectivos cargos. El auto de procesamiento se librará por real decreto o por una decisión de la Segunda Cámara.

Explanation

Please note: Only the Dutch-language version of the Constitution has legal effect. 

Official misconduct committed by members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, as well as ministers and state secretaries, is tried by the Supreme Court, even after their resignation. The order to prosecute is issued by Royal Decree or by a decision of the House of Representatives. Examples of official misconduct include disclosing a state secret or accepting bribes.

The Ministerial Responsibility Act of 1855 applies to the prosecution of ministers and state secretaries. That law was modernized in 2018.

This article has been applied twice, but that was still based on the provisions of the Constitution of 1814, which spoke of crimes committed 'in the performance of their duties'. Minister Pels Rijcken of the Navy was convicted by the Supreme Court in 1868 for violating a veterinary law. He had allowed his dog to run loose in an area where this was prohibited due to cattle typhus. He was sentenced for this (in absentia) by the Supreme Court to a fine of ten guilders or a day in prison. Thorbecke was sentenced to a fine in 1851 for failing to comply with the Militia Act (failure to register his son).