The new political party 50PLUS may take a second seat in the senate through a deal with local provincial parties, the Volkskrant reports on Monday.

The party won one senate seat outright in last week’s elections but may now be helped to another by local parties who did not win enough votes to qualify for the upper house of parliament.
All 500 plus members of the 12 provincial councils vote on the make-up of the upper house of parliament on May 23. Based on the results in Wednesday’s regional vote, the current ruling alliance of VVD, CDA and PVV would fall one seat short of a majority.
Principles
The local parties represent 0.64% of a senate seat. ‘It is a question of principles,’ Emma Kraak, of the regional party association OSF told the paper. ‘How can regional wishes best be represented in the senate?’
50PLUS founder Jan Nagel has his roots in the Leefbaar political movement based on local party interests. The paper says the OSF discussed giving their votes to the party at a membership meeting in Amersfoort on Saturday.
50PLUS provincial councillors represent 1.3% of a senate seat and Nagel has already said he will not help the government to a permanent majority.