NSC parliamentarian Agnes Joseph has told the Telegraaf in an interview she is joining farmers’ party BBB because she felt support from her own party was lacking.

Joseph was the driving force behind a plan to allow pension fund members to opt out of the new pension system. The plan was rejected by 73 votes to 72 in May, following criticism from the Council of State.

Joseph said she was particularly disappointed by the lack of support from NSC social affairs minister Eddy van Hijum for her motion.

The pre-election switch to the BBB, which voted in favour, will allow her to continue putting her weight behind the plan for “a greater say for pension holders and a solid state pension” and not “participate at half power” in the pension debates scheduled for September, she told the paper.

NSC leader Nicolien Vroonhoven said Joseph’s departure was a “terrible waste” and that she finds it “painful” the MP is taking her seat with her. “That should not have happened, as far as we’re concerned,” she said.

Joseph’s defection means the BBB now has nine seats in parliaments. Party leader Caroline van der Plas said she was happy to welcome Joseph, whom she described as “sincere, authentic, honest, and hardworking”.

Joseph will be included on the BBB list for the October general election in eighth place. According to the latest opinion poll, the BBB is expected to end up with just four MPs

The NSC, which won 20 seats in 2023, is on track to disappear from parliament entirely.

Last week another NSC MP, Jelle Soepboer returned his seat when it became clear he could not combine his leadership of the Frisian nationalist party Fryske Nasjonale Partij (FNP) with a seat in parliament.