Former lawyer Theo Hiddema, who resigned as an MP for the far right Forum voor Democratie in the wake of the anti-Semitism scandal, is to join the senate on behalf of the party after all.

Forum has the right to a third seat in the senate because senator Nicki Pouw-Verweij is now an MP on behalf of FvD splinter group JA21.

Hiddema, 77, told the NRC in an interview that he will take up the senate seat, despite his high profile break with FvD leader Thierry Baudet in November. Having changed his mind again in December, in January he flipped sides again, criticising the party for its focus on coronavirus – FvD allied itself with coronavirus sceptics during the election campaign.

Hiddema told the NRC he was happy to return to the fold because of its manifesto commitments. ‘I have orientated myself fully and I know that there are no more coronavirus sceptics hiding behind the curtain,’ he said.

He expects to be sworn in as senator next week.