Council of State: color black Pete is not a matter of Government

The board comes with that recommendation after studying a bill proposed by the PVV. It states that the government should not contribute to a Sinterklaas celebration as the helpers do not see black.

The advisory body of the government finds no place in a democratic state this. Municipalities must ensure public order and safety, and not interfere with the content of events. The private member's bill does in it, says the council. "It does not define (the boundaries of) the playing field, but decides to citizens how the game should look like."  

"Living folk tradition

'Theadvisory says that to determine the color of the helpers a violation of freedom of expression. There Sinterklaas traditionally not covered, but according to the council changed the public debate about Zwarte Piet  recent inyears.

The choice for an important person by now has come to mean a color of a position or an opinion. And thus get different Sinterklaas celebrations fall within the scope of the freedom of expression.

The Board also points out that Sinterklaas is not static, but a "living folk tradition." As society changes, the tradition is changing with it. The advisory also finds that the PVV must refrain from presenting the initiative bill.  

Amsterdam

earlier also rejected the council in another issue around Christmas already mentioned that the government should only look to public order and security and should not interfere with the content.

That happened following the granting of a permit for the Sinterklaas entry in Amsterdam. The board found that  Van Mayorder Laanin 2013 when granting the permit rightly did not take into account the interests of the opponents of St. Nicholas' helper

Source:.NOS.nl/ © Reuters