{{Short description|Dutch politician (born 1974)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Judith Sargentini | honorific_suffix = MEP | image = Judith-Sargentini-portret.jpg | office = Member of the European Parliament | term_start = 1 July 2009 | term_end = 2019 | constituency = Netherlands | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|3|13|df=y}} | birth_place = Amsterdam, Netherlands | death_date = | death_place = |party = '''''{{flag|Netherlands|name=Dutch}}:'''''<br />GreenLeft<br />'''''{{flag|EU}}:'''''<br />European Green Party | spouse = | children = | alma_mater = University of Amsterdam | website = [http://www.judithsargentini.nl judithsargentini.nl] }}
'''Judith Sargentini''' (born 13 March 1974) is a former Dutch politician and Member of the European Parliament (MEP). She is a member of the GreenLeft ({{langx|nl|GroenLinks}}) party, which is part of The Greens–European Free Alliance, and the European Green Party. Previously, she was chair of the party's delegation in Amsterdam's city council.
==Biography== Sargentini describes her family as being "politically very aware".<ref name="Adam">{{cite web |title=Interview Judith Sargentini |url=http://amsterdam.nl/gemeente/gemeenteraad/navigatie/raadsleden_en/interviews/interview_mevr |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307011438/http://amsterdam.nl/gemeente/gemeenteraad/navigatie/raadsleden_en/interviews/interview_mevr |archive-date=2009-03-07 |language=nl |date=7 March 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref> As a child, her parents took her to demonstrations against the placement of nuclear weapons in the Netherlands. Between 1986 and 1992, she attended high school at the Spinozalyceum in Amsterdam. In 1999 she received an MA of history at the University of Amsterdam (specialising in totalitarian systems and the democratisation of Europe).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nl.linkedin.com/in/judithsargentini |title=Judith Sargentini |date= |website=LinkedIn}}{{Self-published inline|date=May 2022}}</ref> Since 1990, Sargentini was politically active, first in the PSJG, the political youth organization of the left-socialist Pacifist Socialist Party, and later in DWARS, the political youth organization of the GreenLeft, a new political party in which the PSP had merged. During her study, she was also active in the international student movement. Sargentini is a vegetarian.<ref name="Adam"/>
== Political career == She was secretary of the Dutch Student Union (between 1995 and 1996) and board member of the European Students' Union (in 1998).
In 2002, Sargentini was elected into the Amsterdam municipal council. Between 1999 and 2002, she sat as a co-opted assistant on the municipal council. Between 2006 and 2009, Sargentini served as chair of the GreenLeft party in the Amsterdam municipality. She was spokesperson on work & income, youth policy, and public order.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.amsterdam.nl/gemeente/gemeenteraad/navigatie/raadsleden_en?LidIdt=102529&SysIdt=P0001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605192238/http://www.amsterdam.nl/gemeente/gemeenteraad/navigatie/raadsleden_en?LidIdt=102529&SysIdt=P0001 |url-status=dead |title=mevr. Judith Sargentini|archive-date=5 June 2008}}</ref>
In addition to her membership of the council, Sargentini worked for various NGOs in the sphere development cooperation. Between 2000 and 2001, she was international coordinator of the European Network for Information and Action in Southern Africa. Following upon that, she worked as international-campaign coordinator for Fatal Transactions, a foundation that highlighted issues surrounding the international trade in conflict diamonds and the financing of (civil) wars in Africa.<ref>David Cronin (1 October 2003), [http://www.politico.eu/article/mining-minerals-and-metals-2/ Mining, Minerals and Metals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919143054/http://www.politico.eu/article/mining-minerals-and-metals-2/ |date=19 September 2016 }} ''European Voice''.</ref> Between 2003 and 2007, she worked as lobbyist at the Dutch Institute for South Africa. Since 2007, she worked as consultant for the European alliance of development-cooperation organisations Eurostep.<ref name="GL1"/>
==Member of the European Parliament, 2009–2019== In 2009, Sargentini was one of the candidates for the position of lead candidate on the list of GroenLinks for the 2009 European Parliament elections. While a candidate for the position, Sargentini emphasised issues such as development cooperation, migration, climate change and emancipation.<ref>[https://judithsargentini.blogspot.com/2008/11/crisis-welnee-nieuwe-kansen-voor-de.html Crisis? Welnee! Nieuwe kansen voor de wereld. Een manifest voor verantwoordelijk Europa] on JudithSargentini.nl</ref> On 8 February 2009, it was announced that she was elected as lead candidate and party foreperson for GroenLinks in the Netherlands European Parliament elections. After five rounds of vote counting, she was elected with 52.4% of the tally.<ref name="GL1">[http://europa.groenlinks.nl/node/19666 Judith Sargentini lijsttrekker verkiezingen Europees Parlement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012004304/http://europa.groenlinks.nl/node/19666 |date=12 October 2013 }} op GroenLinks.nl</ref><ref>[http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article1145296.ece/Voor_een_schonere_lucht_moet_je_in_Europa_zijn ‘Voor een schonere lucht moet je in Europa zijn’] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217051923/http://www.volkskrant.nl/binnenland/article1145296.ece/Voor_een_schonere_lucht_moet_je_in_Europa_zijn |date=17 February 2009 }} in Volkskrant 8 February 2009</ref><ref>[http://www.nrc.nl/europa/article2145186.ece/Sargentini_Europees_lijsttrekker_van_GroenLinks Sargentini Europees lijsttrekker van GroenLinks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315061243/http://www.nrc.nl/europa/article2145186.ece/Sargentini_Europees_lijsttrekker_van_GroenLinks |date=15 March 2009 }} op NRC.nl</ref>
Sargentini became a member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs of the European Parliament, as well as a substitute for the Committee on Development.<ref name="EUCOM">[http://europa.groenlinks.nl/node/28498 GroenLinks dik tevreden over verworven posities in Europarlement] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109120004/http://europa.groenlinks.nl/node/28498 |date=9 January 2014 }} op groenlinks.nl</ref>
In addition to her committee assignments, Sargentini is a member of the European Parliament Intergroup on LGBT Rights.<ref>[http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/about/members/ Members] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327004733/http://www.lgbt-ep.eu/about/members/ |date=27 March 2019 }} European Parliament Intergroup on LGBTI Rights.</ref> She is also a vice-chairwoman of the cross-party working groups on fair trade (sponsored by Fair Trade Advocacy),<ref>[http://www.fairtrade-advocacy.org/vote4ft-news/770-fair-trade-housewarming-at-the-european-parliament-2 Fair Trade housewarming at the European Parliament] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110175446/http://www.fairtrade-advocacy.org/vote4ft-news/770-fair-trade-housewarming-at-the-european-parliament-2 |date=10 January 2018 }} Fair Trade Advocacy, press release of 8 October 2014.</ref> as well as on innovation, access to medicines, and poverty-related diseases (sponsored by Médecins Sans Frontières).<ref>[http://www.msfaccess.org/content/meps-kick-start-their-mandate-greater-commitment-access-medicines MEPs kick start their mandate with greater commitment to access to medicines] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180111052719/http://www.msfaccess.org/content/meps-kick-start-their-mandate-greater-commitment-access-medicines |date=11 January 2018 }} Médecins Sans Frontières, press release of 7 October 2014.</ref> thumb In the European parliament, Sargentini serves as rapporteur on conflict minerals.<ref>Andrew Gardner (5 March 2014), [http://www.politico.eu/article/commission-shies-away-from-rules-on-conflict-minerals/ Commission shies away from rules on conflict minerals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919150523/http://www.politico.eu/article/commission-shies-away-from-rules-on-conflict-minerals/ |date=19 September 2016 }} ''European Voice''.</ref> In 2014, she and Arturs Krišjānis Kariņš persuaded their fellow MEPs to back new rules under which public registers are created listing the beneficial owners of all EU companies and trusts.<ref>Nicholas Hirst (23 April 2014), [http://www.politico.eu/article/what-the-parliament-achieved-in-2009-14/ What the Parliament achieved in 2009-14] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919134924/http://www.politico.eu/article/what-the-parliament-achieved-in-2009-14/ |date=19 September 2016 }} ''European Voice''.</ref>
From 2014 until 2019, Sargentini was a member of the Democracy Support and Election Coordination Group (DEG), which oversees the Parliament's election observation missions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/election_observation/members_en.htm|title=EP Election Observation|website=europarl.europa.eu|access-date=29 April 2018|archive-date=17 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617100050/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/intcoop/election_observation/members_en.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> She has led EU-Election Observer Missions on numerous occasions, including for the 2014 Tunisian parliamentary elections<ref>Jeanette Minns (25 September 2014), [http://www.politico.eu/article/election-monitors/ Election monitors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919153534/http://www.politico.eu/article/election-monitors/ |date=19 September 2016 }} ''European Voice''.</ref> and the 2015 Tanzanian general elections.
===Report on use of Article 7 against Hungary=== In 2017, she was appointed by the European Parliament Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs as the rapporteur to examine triggering Article 7 proceedings against Hungary alleging breaches of "core EU values".<ref>Lili Bayer and Maïa de La Baume (12 April 2018), [https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-european-parliament-report-judith-sargentini-calls-for-sanctions-procedure-against-hungary/ European Parliament report calls for sanctions procedure against Hungary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429160234/https://www.politico.eu/article/viktor-orban-european-parliament-report-judith-sargentini-calls-for-sanctions-procedure-against-hungary/ |date=29 April 2018 }} ''Politico Europe''.[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2018-0250&language=EN Text of the Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913150402/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=REPORT&mode=XML&reference=A8-2018-0250&language=EN |date=13 September 2018 }}.</ref> On 12 September 2018, the European Parliament adopted a resolution based on her report to trigger Article 7.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180906IPR12104/rule-of-law-in-hungary-parliament-calls-on-the-eu-to-act|title=Rule of law in Hungary: Parliament calls on the EU to act - News - European Parliament|date=9 December 2018|website=europarl.europa.eu|access-date=18 September 2018|archive-date=18 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918094503/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180906IPR12104/rule-of-law-in-hungary-parliament-calls-on-the-eu-to-act|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/12/eu-meps-vote-to-pursue-action-against-hungary-over-orban-crackdown|title=MEPs vote to pursue action against Hungary over Orbán crackdown|first=Jennifer|last=Rankin|date=12 September 2018|via=www.theguardian.com}}</ref> The report includes concerns mainly regarding the constitutional and electoral system; the independence of the judiciary, corruption; privacy and data protection; freedom of expression; academic independence; freedom of religion and association; the right to equal treatment; the rights of minorities, migrants, asylum seekers and refugees; and the abolition of economic and social rights, antisemitism, antisemitic acts and hate speech. In point 57 of her report, she accused the Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán of delivering antisemitic hate speech.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2018-0250_EN.html|title=REPORT on a proposal calling on the Council to determine, pursuant to Article 7(1) of the Treaty on European Union, the existence of a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the Union is founded|website=europarl.europa.eu|access-date=12 June 2019|archive-date=20 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620180435/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/A-8-2018-0250_EN.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20180411RES01553/20180411RES01553.pdf The Sargentini-Report] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920162538/http://www.europarl.europa.eu/resources/library/media/20180411RES01553/20180411RES01553.pdf |date=20 September 2018 }} retrieved 4 May 2019.</ref> In point 67, she said that the conviction of Ahmed H-, a Syrian refugee, who got into conflict with Hungarian policemen at the southern border, raises "the issue of proper application of the laws against terrorism in Hungary, as well as the right to a fair trial".<ref>{{cite news |title=Ahmed H. had seven passports |url=https://dailynewshungary.com/ahmed-h-had-seven-different-passports-when-he-got-caught/ |access-date=29 November 2018 |publisher=Daily News Hungary |date=23 September 2015 |archive-date=29 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129225300/https://dailynewshungary.com/ahmed-h-had-seven-different-passports-when-he-got-caught/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The report was approved by the European Parliament, with 448 votes in favour, 197 against and 48 abstention.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bbj.hu/politics/ep-approves-sargentini-report-against-hungary_154795|title=EP approves Sargentini Report against Hungary|website=Budapest Business Journal|access-date=29 October 2018|archive-date=29 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029191912/https://bbj.hu/politics/ep-approves-sargentini-report-against-hungary_154795|url-status=live}}</ref> left|thumb The Hungarian Government questioned the legitimacy of this vote, claiming that this kind of decision would have needed a 2/3 majority. The Orbán-cabinet also stated that the abstinence votes should not have been omitted during the voting process - ignoring that only votes cast, excluding abstentions, were counted on the advice of the Parliament's legal service.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-approves-hungary-censure-motion/|title=Parliament denounces Hungary's illiberalism|date=12 September 2018|website=POLITICO|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-date=1 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190401171412/https://www.politico.eu/article/european-parliament-approves-hungary-censure-motion/|url-status=live}}</ref> Hungary turned to the European Court of Justice for a final decision. The government also edited a 109 pages long answer, which claims that the report contains at least 39 factual errors or fallacies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://abouthungary.hu/speeches-and-remarks/background-the-government-of-hungary-on-the-so-called-sargentini-report/|title=About Hungary - [Background] The government of Hungary on the so-called Sargentini Report|website=abouthungary.hu|date=10 September 2018|access-date=5 October 2018|archive-date=6 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181006000240/http://abouthungary.hu/speeches-and-remarks/background-the-government-of-hungary-on-the-so-called-sargentini-report/|url-status=live}}</ref> Sargentini replied at a press conference, stating that she went through it and found "no holes in [her] report since it is based on sources of intergovernmental bodies such as the UN, the Council of Europe, court cases from Strasbourg and Luxembourg, infringement procedures", adding that the report does not express her personal opinion but that of the European Commission.<ref name="multimedia.europarl.europa.eu">{{cite web|url=https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/press-conference-sargentini-situation-in-hungary_I160041-V_rv|title=Press conference by Judith SARGENTINI (Greens/EFA, NL), rapporteur, on the situation in Hungary (14:09 - 14:32)|via=multimedia.europarl.europa.eu|access-date=29 October 2018|archive-date=13 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413185305/https://multimedia.europarl.europa.eu/en/press-conference-sargentini-situation-in-hungary_I160041-V_rv|url-status=dead}}</ref> The dean of the Hungarian university ELTE's Faculty of Law claimed that contrarily to what Sargentini said, the university had not been consulted during Sargentini's investigation, and asked the removal of its name from the report many times, without response.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 September 2018 |title=Sargentini visszaélt a pécsi egyetem és az ELTE jogi karának nevével |url=https://pestisracok.hu/forro-drot/2018/09/sargentini-visszaelt-a-pecsi-egyetem-es-az-elte-jogi-karanak-nevevel |access-date=2025-11-02 |website=Pesti Srácok |language=hu}}</ref> On this issue, Sargentini answered that names were omitted on the interviewed academics' request, who feared of being outed as they would be labelled anti-government and pursued for their opinions.<ref name="multimedia.europarl.europa.eu"/> Chief Rabbi, Slomó Köves declared that the Sargentini Report is "unfounded and false references don't help the fight against domestic antisemitism, nor its declared objectives to improve democracy"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://hvg.hu/itthon/20181129_Koves_Slomo_Az_egyhazaknak_kotelesseg_egyuttmukodni_Orbannal|title=The churches have to cooperate with the Orbán government|date=29 November 2018|website=HVG|access-date=28 October 2025}}</ref> Other Hungarian Jewish leaders, including the leader of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Hungary, also criticised the statement in the Sargentini's report, according to which the Hungarian antisemitism is embodied in hate speech and violence against Jewish person and property. András Heisler claimed that is not the case at all, and according to their statistics, violence against Jews in Hungary actually dropped from 47 cases in 2016 to 37 in 2017.<ref name="kibic.hu">{{cite web|url=https://kibic.hu/2018/09/23/ki-a-zsidok-igazi-vedelmezoje/|title=Who is the real defender of the Jews?|date=23 October 2018|website=kibic.hu|access-date=28 October 2025}}</ref> They also critzicised Sargentini's and her party's stance on Israel, which claims apartheid in connection with Israel.<ref name="kibic.hu"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://hvg.hu/velemeny/20180928_Magyar_zsidok_a_Sargentinijelentesben|title=Hungarian Jews in the Sargentini report|date=28 October 2018|website=hvg.hu|access-date=28 October 2025}}</ref>
Following her report, Sargentini became the subject of a negative TV campaign financed by the Hungarian government.<ref>{{Citation|last=vpro zondag met lubach|title=Judith Sargentini en Hongarije - Zondag met Lubach (S09)|date=14 October 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cMstd_eDF4 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211220/5cMstd_eDF4 |archive-date=2021-12-20 |url-status=live|access-date=4 November 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://index.hu/belfold/2018/09/18/a_kormany_kampanyt_indit_a_sargentini-jelentesrol/|title=A kormány kampányt indít a Sargentini-jelentésről|last=Tamás|first=Fábián|date=18 September 2018|access-date=4 November 2018|language=hu|archive-date=1 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181001050904/https://index.hu/belfold/2018/09/18/a_kormany_kampanyt_indit_a_sargentini-jelentesrol/|url-status=live}}</ref> Deserted by many of his conservative allies, the membership of the Hungarian governing party Fidesz was partially suspended by the European People's Party on 20 March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20190320-european-peoples-party-votes-suspend-hungarian-president-orbans-fidesz-party|title=European People's Party votes to suspend Hungarian President Orban's Fidesz Party|date=20 March 2019|website=France 24|access-date=9 December 2019|archive-date=25 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191225022608/https://www.france24.com/en/20190320-european-peoples-party-votes-suspend-hungarian-president-orbans-fidesz-party|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Other activities== * Fair Trials International, Patron * Resistance Museum, Member of the Board
==References== {{Reflist|2}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Judith Sargentini}} * [http://www.europarl.europa.eu/members/expert/committees/view.do?language=EN&id=96815 Europaparliament: Judith Sargentini] * [http://www.parlement.com/9291000/biof/16065 Judith Sargentini] on parlement.com
{{European Parliament MEPs, 2014-2019 (Netherlands) by party}} {{European Parliament MEPs, 2009-2014 (Netherlands) by party}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sargentini, Judith}} Category:1974 births Category:Living people Category:GroenLinks MEPs Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2014–2019 Category:MEPs for the Netherlands 2009–2014 Category:21st-century women MEPs for the Netherlands Category:Municipal councillors of Amsterdam Category:Dutch people of Italian descent Category:University of Amsterdam alumni