THE HAGUE, 23/11/00 - The leftwing green (GroenLinks) and socialist SP parties in the Lower House have asked Premier Wim Kok in writing to clarify the visit both parents of Maxima Zorreguieta have unexpectedly paid to Queen Beatrix. Maxima is the Argentine girlfriend of Crown Prince Willem-Alexander.

It emerged yesterday that the Zorreguietas had dinner with Queen Beatrix in The Hague last Saturday and even spent the night at her Noordeinde Palace. GroenLinks and the SP want to know why the visit of Maxima's father, who was a member of Argentina's notorious Videla-regime, took place in secrecy.

Spokesman E. Brouwers of the Government Information Service (RVD) confirmed that the Queen and the Zorreguietas had a "private meeting", but declined to comment on its content. He said not being aware of any talks having taken place at Noordeinde Palace about a possible engagement between Willem-Alexander and the daughter of Argentina's former Agriculture Minister. Brouwers did confirm that Maxima is still the girlfriend of the Prince of Orange.

GroenLinks reacted with surprise to the meeting, particularly because a possible visit by Maxima Senior has been giving rise to discord in the Netherlands. "We want the premier to clarify his part in the visit and to know whether we have seen a prelude of the way in which he is going to deal with this matter in the future," said a GroenLinks spokesman yesterday.

Premier Kok told reporters later in the day that he was aware of the visit. He denied however that, "A new phase has emerged" in the relation between the Crown Prince and Maxima. "If this were so, I would have reported it," said the premier.