For the time being, the judge does not agree with the objection of broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland (ON!) against the letter from the NPO to State Secretary Gunay Uslu (Media). The letter from the NPO asks for ON!’s recognition to be withdrawn.
ON! had lodged an objection on the basis of the General Administrative Law Act. According to the broadcaster, the letter was a “written decision from an administrative body”. The court does not agree: the letter is only a request and not a decision.
The NPO made the request to the State Secretary at the end of April because ON! despite three sanctions imposed, still does not sufficiently implement “the willingness to cooperate within the public broadcasting system”. In 2021, the broadcaster received candidate status from then media minister Arie Slob on the condition that ON! would share “the same ideas about journalism” as other broadcasters within the system.
Uslu expects to make a decision on the NPO’s request before the summer. The minister has already said that she finds the decision “uncomfortable”. She therefore seeks advice from the State Attorney.
Objection to third sanction is also filed
Ongehoord Nederland also announced on Wednesday that it would object to the third sanction imposed by the NPO. This has been announced by lawyer Hakan Külcü on behalf of the aspiring broadcaster.
The third fine amounts to almost 132,000 euros. The NPO imposed this fine at the end of April because, according to the NPO, the broadcaster continues to spread demonstrably incorrect information. With this ON! does not comply with the journalistic code that all broadcasters must adhere to, according to the NPO. ON! previously said that the third sanction was “unjustified and biased”.
