A total of 29 parties have submitted lists of candidates to contest the general election next month – 12 fewer than at the last election in 2021.

Fewer than half the 70 parties who registered to take part in the election are fielding candidates, and more may drop out before November 22. In 2021 voters had 37 parties to choose from on polling day.

The parties include Pieter Omtzigt’s Nieuw Sociaal Contract (NSC) and 12 other newcomers, as well as a number of parties that failed to win seats last time, such as the Piratenpartij, who have formed an alliance with the minor green party De Groenen.

The electoral council said 15 parties had made errors either in the submission process or the list of candidates. They have until Friday to rectify them, after which the list of parties will be finalised. A draw is then held to decide the order in which minor parties appear on the ballot paper.

Left-wing party BIJ1 will hope to retain their one seat but will have to do it without Sylvana Simons, who is stepping down as an MP. The pensioners’ party 50Plus, whose only MP Liane den Haan broke away three months after the last election and now sits as an independent, is trying to return to parliament.

Wybren van Haga, who was elected for Forum voor Democratie (FVD) in 2021, formed a splinter group with two other MPs several weeks later and has since lost one of those seats, will be hoping to return as leader of Belang van Nederland (BVNL).

Lesser-known newcomers include the sports party PartijvdSport, the Political Party for a Basic Income and the youth party LEF – Voor de Nieuwe Generatie.

All participating parties have to pay a deposit of €11,250 which is reimbursed if they receive 75% of the votes required to win one seat – a figure known as the kiesdeler.