The Socialist party (SP) has proposed docking MPs’ pay if they repeatedly fail to show up for debates in parliament after obtaining attendance figures.

The party’s sights were firmly fixed on the far-right PVV, the largest group in parliament with 37 MPs. Ten PVV members have barely been seen in the debating chamber since the November 2023 election, according to official records.

One PVV MP, Vincent van den Born, has not tabled a single motion in the 422 days since he was elected.

“When people are earning a gross annual salary of €141,000 they should be able to explain why such well-paid people are performing so few parliamentary duties,” said SP MP Michiel van Nispen, who tabled a motion on Monday asking for the issue to be investigated. “It reflects badly on the whole parliament.”

PVV MP Chris Faddegon said his colleagues were working hard behind the scenes, but Van Nispen said the absence of the largest party from debates on issues such as youth care and education was hampering the effectiveness of parliament.

“There are 150 MPs to check on the cabinet and contribute to important laws. We need them all,” he said.

“Every party in parliament has policy workers to read bills and do background work. It’s not right that 10 people are neglecting their duties when they’re being so handsomely paid by the taxpayer.”

Van Nispen called for parliament’s steering committee, the praesidium, to look at whether sanctions could be introduced for MPs who frequently missed debates, including withholding a portion of their salaries.

“Constitutionally it’s a difficult issue, but we can at least look at what’s possible,” he said. “My proposal is for the praesidium to ask constitutional experts what the optiions are and how other countries and local authorities deal with it.”