‘Alderman decides when he says goodbye’
You cannot force an alderman to stay in his position, political scientist Harmen Binnema explains. It can – indeed – feel uncomfortable for the council that Paul van Ruitenbeek no longer gives answers to the report, but: “The outcome would probably have been the same. If he was still in his office, the Council might have submitted a motion of no confidence against him.”
Binnema acknowledges that the timing of Van Ruitenbeek’s departure is “separate” to say the least. “So shortly before a critical report, that makes an unfortunate impression.” However, the departure of the alderman is allowed in a formal sense. “He decides when he says goodbye. It does not seem credible that only the love relationship is the reason, but his letter of resignation made him no longer have to give public accountability about the report.”