The Hague City Councilor Robert Barker (PvdD) was assaulted by an irate entrepreneur during Thursday night's city council meeting. The reason for the punch was not immediately known, Omlop West reported. The discussion concerned the city's zoning plan, which includes small beach houses in Kaikuduin and Scheveningen.
“You may have noticed that I'm a little agitated,” Barker said during the meeting. “That's because I just got fucked by that entrepreneur. That's not great. That's why it's hard to answer, but I'm trying.”
Mayor Jan van Zanen said he and several others witnessed the assault. The entrepreneur was asked to leave the room and did so. “I think it's all very sad, but there are emotions at play. I hope we can get back to business as usual, no matter how difficult and complicated,” the mayor said.
During the city council meeting, entrepreneurs who operate beach houses in Kaikuduin and Scheveningen expressed concern that their homes were not included in the zoning plan that the city council discussed with Mr Barker that night. The CDA made a motion to include a small beach house, and council adopted the motion.
At the end of the meeting, D66 faction leader Marieke van Doorn returned to the case. “We would like to express her support for Councilman Barker,” she said. “We saw that he is now distraught. It is unacceptable that he has to work in this way.” The statement was approved by The Hague City Council with a huge vote.
