A Dutch appeals court on Tuesday (February 15) suspended a judgment rendered earlier today by a court in The Hague that ordered the government to lift the national curfew against Covid-19.
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"
This means that the 9:00 p.m. (8:00 p.m. GMT) curfew remains in effect,
" NOS state television said.
The final judgment of the court of appeal is due on Friday.
The court wanted to prevent a "
yo-yo effect
," the judge said, pending Friday's hearing in which the court must decide whether it allows the curfew to continue until March 2 or more. it must end, as ordered by a judge earlier today.
"
The curfew is valid, this evening too
", reacted on Twitter the Prime Minister Mark Rutte.
A court in The Hague had ruled that the Dutch government had to end the current curfew, a measure to combat Covid-19 that had caused violent riots in the country, but The Hague immediately appealed.
The case had been brought to justice by Viruswaarheid ("
Truth about the virus
"), a group opposed to measures to combat Covid-19, including the introduction of the curfew, and which has organized numerous protests since. the start of the health crisis.
The Dutch government announced in early February to extend the national curfew, in effect from 9:00 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. from January 23, until March 2.
During a press conference, Rutte called on the Dutch to "
continue to respect the curfew
", even if the court were to reject his appeal.
Even if it turned out that the curfew was not based on a
correct “
legal basis
”, said Rutte, “
this does not mean that this measure is not necessary.
"
