GroenLinks MP Linda Voortman has been suspended for one month because of speculation about her role in leaking the nominees for the job of national ombudsman.

Party chairman Bram van Ojik says the suspension is to prevent further speculation. Voortman, a member of the appointments committee, has been named by the Telegraaf as a possible source of the information, which was passed to website nu.nl and others.

Voortman says she did not leak any information to the press but did say she had discussed the confidential list with other GroenLinks MPs. ‘She deeply regrets this and it should not have happened,’ Van Ojik told the media.

Police are currently investigating the source of the leak of the names of all three nominees which followed the row over the appointment of Guido van Woerkom.

Van Woerkom came under fire for comments about Moroccans made in the past and a golden handshake from his previous employer and eventually said he would not take the job.