The right-wing Liberal VVD party has called on Green Party MP Wijnand Duyvendak to resign following revelations on Wednesday that he was involved in a break-in at the economic affairs ministry during his period as an environmental activist in the 1980s, reports Thursday’s Nederlands Dagblad.

‘A minister or junior minister would have to resign immediately in such a situation. The very fact that we are chosen by the people means we should be stricter [on ourselves],’ VVD MP Helma Neppérus tells the paper.
But Duyvendak’s own party told the media on Wednesday that it has been aware of his involvement in the incident since his selection as an MP in 2002 and stands behind him.
Duyvendak admits he broke into the economic affairs ministry in 1985, together with a number of other activists, and stole plans relating to new nuclear power plants. The exposure of these plans was deeply embarrassing for the government of the time, report various media.
The involvement of Duyendak, who was a leading figure in the environmental movement, comes to light in a book he has written. The MP says he now distances himself from the criminal action.
Green Party parliamentary leader Femke Halsema says she encouraged Duyvendak to take responsibility for his past. ‘I believe that [protest] action should always remain within the law and if you look at his book, that’s also the view of Wijnand Duyvendak,’ Halsema is quoted by ANP news service as saying.
But other political parties are unhappy with the ‘proud tone’ they claim Duyvendak uses to describe the incident in his book, says ANP. However most MPs believe the matter is an internal one for the Green Party.