THE HAGUE, 25/01/03 - Caretaker Immigration Minister Hilbrand Nawijn is expected to enter parliament for the Pim Fortuyn List (LPF) after all. He said Friday he will make use of the preference votes he received in Wednesday's elections.

Nawijn was put forward earlier by the LPF as its frontrunner in the elections, but suspecting that his party would not return to government, he said shortly after this he had little interest in a career as MP. He allowed himself to be placed low down on the LPF's list of candidates as unelectable number 35.

Nawijn however announced Friday he received more than 17,000 preference votes and could not refuse parliamentary membership. The Election Council will announce Monday whether his estimate is correct. Like all other non-elected candidates, Nawijn will need about 16,000 votes for a preference position. If he succeeds, he will take the place of Gonnie Koster, as the LPF captured 8 Lower House and she ranks 8th on the party's list.

Within the ChristenUnie, it appears that the number 3, Leen van Dijke, will have to give up this seat to Tineke Huizinga. She was also chosen in the previous elections of 15 May by preference votes, becoming the first woman ever to become an MP for the orthodox Christian party.