From Eric Dondero:

A vote for control of the country's Senate will take place on May 23. The margin for the ruling coalition of right-libertarian Geert Wilders and his Party For Freedom, Coalition leader and free marketeer Mark Rutte and his People's Party for Freedom and Democracy, and the Christian Democrats has been one single vote shy.

Rutte and Wilders held a private meeting with a member of the tiny provincial Zeeland Party, and won him over.

From the Dutch News "Rutte under fire over suspected senate deal on Zeeland":

Johan Robesin, who represents the Zeeland Party, has decided to vote for ‘the coalition government’ in the May 23 senate vote, following the meeting, Nos said earlier this week. Earlier it was thought Robesin would support new party 50Plus.

Robesin’s support is crucial for the cabinet, which hopes to win a majority in the 75-seat senate but is currently one seat short. The senate is chosen by provincial councillors.

The Left is screaming about the meeting, and over Wilder's apparent influence in the process. Continuing:

Labour leader Job Cohen said it is ´extremely serious’ that Rutte and Wilders – who is not a member of the government – had the meeting, which is said to have lasted almost two hours.

D66 leader Alexander Pechtold said the meeting showed how dependent the prime minister is on Wilders. Wilders can ‘no longer criticise the way others take decisions behind closed doors,’ Pechtold says in the Parool.

Of course, the MP's decision to switch to the Rutte/Wilders coalition ensures that their staunchly libertarian/pro-national security agenda will have a much easier time of passing in the Dutch Government.

Editor's note - Zeeland is the southernmost province of The Netherlands. It is made up largely of islands. It is a traditionally Dutch area with windmills, a maritime lore, craftsmen, and ethnically Dutch values. And yes, the country of New Zeeland was named after the Province.