Hero Brinkman, the MP who quit the PVV earlier this year because it is not democratic enough, has joined up with Trots op Nederland, the populist party created by Rita Verdonk, to fight the September general election.

Verdonk set up TON after losing the contest to lead the VVD Liberals to Mark Rutte but stepped out of the party last year. TON won no seats in the 2010 general election but has some local council seats. Verdonk is said to approve of the merger with Brinkman’s fledgling party.
The merged grouping will have a new name which has not yet been announced. Brinkman will lead the election campaign.