MPs on Saturday voted in favour of a recount at four polling stations in Tilburg because of minor irregularities.

According to the electoral council, fewer votes were cast at the four polling stations than the number of voting papers (stempassen) that were handed in. In all cases, the difference was more than 15 votes, and in one, the discrepancy amounted to more than 2% of the total votes cast.

“There is no obvious reason for this difference,” according to the letter from the parliamentary committee responsible for the recall.

The polling stations have already recounted the number of papers but not the ballots themselves.

It is the first time in recent political history that MPs have been recalled to work at the weekend and tough new rules require the entire 150-seat parliament to have its say.