Embarrassment in the Kingdom: The High Court in The Hague ordered the abolition of the night curfew imposed by the government • The state appealed, and will try to overturn the ruling in emergency legislation
A police officer enforces the night curfew in The Hague
Photo:
EPA
The High Court in The Hague, the Netherlands, ruled today (Tuesday) that the night curfew announced by the government about three weeks ago should be lifted immediately.
"The severe step was taken unlawfully," the judge argued in a precedent-setting ruling that is stirring the country, which is under severe curfew from 9 p.m. to 4 p.m. every evening.
A race against time is now underway in the Netherlands, as according to local law currently the night curfew - which is estimated to have led to a decrease in morbidity in the country - is null and void.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte convened the cabinet in the afternoon for an urgent hearing, advising residents to stay in their homes after 9pm, despite the ruling. The Dutch government has filed an urgent appeal to the court over the ruling, and the hearing is taking place at the same time. Emergency legislation that will circumvent the court ruling.
If the government's appeal is accepted, he may postpone the decision to lift the closure, at least for a short period of time - until a further discussion of the matter.
Professor Jerfi Ozman, an expert in constitutional law in the country, told the TV network NOS that "there is a high chance that the ruling will be rejected on appeal."
According to Prof. Ozman, "The judge made a decision that should not have been made, and the consequences are drastic. He did not first ask for adjustments or easing of the curfew, but immediately ordered it revoked, on the grounds that the House of Representatives should have been involved in making the decision. This is problematic, the members of parliament themselves could have stopped the implementation of the curfew. "
In the next few hours, it will become clear what will happen to the curfew tonight.
While the country's supermarket association has announced that it is responding to Prime Minister Rota's request to close all supermarkets around 21:00, many residents are organizing on social media to take to the streets at 21:00.
According to the Dutch government, the night curfew has reduced corona morbidity by 15 percent At least, along with the additional measures taken, including: a ban on opening cafes, restaurants, cultural institutions, and a ban on any multi-participant event, including weddings and prayers.
The vaccination campaign in the Netherlands, as in most European countries, is conducted lazily, and Prime Minister Rota is particularly concerned (Like many of his colleagues in the world) from the British mutation, which has spread in recent weeks in the kingdom as well.