Netherlands curfew ruled illegal

[anonymous-user]

Court in The Hague states national curfew must be lifted immediately.
National curfew to be lifted with immediate effect.
Yahoo UK News. 16-02-2021

"Treade a worme on the tayle, and it must turne agayne."
John Heywood (c. 1497 – c. 1580)

[Ian Geary]

So the Dutch government incorrectly used emergency laws without going through their Parliament.

The govt tried to immediately appeal, and asked for the curfew to be continued, but the appeal won't be heard until Friday.

It has overtones of the UK parliament proroguing, and I recall the UK government tool "some convincing" before letting MPs vote on measures (though they've not yet tried to reject any)

It is an interesting reminder of how important rule of law is, even in times of crisis.

However, I think very few Dutch curfew rioters were upset that the law hadn't been applied "properly", and I think the lack of correct legal procedure doesn't necessarily mean efforts to tackle the spread are misplaced.

Ian

[Biggy Stardust]

Ian Geary said:

I think the lack of correct legal procedure doesn't necessarily mean efforts to tackle the spread are misplaced.

Ian

I could attempt to restrict the spread of covid by chopping the heads off people without masks. At what point would you draw the line on illegal measures in the hope of doing good?

[Derek Smith]

Biggy Stardust said:

I could attempt to restrict the spread of covid by chopping the heads off people without masks. At what point would you draw the line on illegal measures in the hope of doing good?

Somehwere before the onset of hyperbole might be a start.

[Sophisticated Sarah]

Derek Smith said:

Biggy Stardust said:

I could attempt to restrict the spread of covid by chopping the heads off people without masks. At what point would you draw the line on illegal measures in the hope of doing good?

Somehwere before the onset of hyperbole might be a start.

I think that started about three days into the Covid crisis...

[Slackline]

Asking for a friend, are we all going to die from this covid thing or not?

And from me, when can I go to the pub?

[crofty1984]

Slackline said:

Asking for a friend, are we all going to die from this covid thing or not?

And from me, when can I go to the pub?

fking hell, remember when you could just go to a place and, er, be there. Not even for any reason, you could just decide to go there to see what it's like.
I miss the before times. Had quite enough of this now. Might go for a drive in the van tomorrow night, just because. That's sticking it to the man.

[Ian Geary]

Biggy Stardust said:

Ian Geary said:

I think the lack of correct legal procedure doesn't necessarily mean efforts to tackle the spread are misplaced.

Ian

I could attempt to restrict the spread of covid by chopping the heads off people without masks. At what point would you draw the line on illegal measures in the hope of doing good?

I think you have misunderstood my comment to imply measures should be put in place unlawfully. No unlawful measures should be put in place.

My point was that the illegality of these measures does not mean measures to control covid are not needed (in the opinion of the Dutch government).


This comment was in the context of the restrictions the Dutch had already put in place (and have since been overturned), rather than any ludicrous measures plucked out of thin air for the sake of argument.

If I stopped being a bloke on a car forum and started being the Dutch government, I would probably draw the line at the very same restrictions the government had originally drawn the line at, assuming their infection rates and health care capacity still warranted it (things might have changed since early Jan). I'm not sure how anything else can be read into this context?

But I would make sure the government implemented them legally.

[Wills2]

Biggy Stardust said:

I could attempt to restrict the spread of covid by chopping the heads off people without masks. At what point would you draw the line on illegal measures in the hope of doing good?

You could, but what's that got to do with the OP?

[Biggy Stardust]

Wills2 said:

Biggy Stardust said:

I could attempt to restrict the spread of covid by chopping the heads off people without masks. At what point would you draw the line on illegal measures in the hope of doing good?

You could, but what's that got to do with the OP?

I interpreted his comments to be that laws were worth disregarding if it helped stop C19 spread. He has since clarified his position.

[amusingduck]

Curfew back on the menu

ap said:

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Dutch senators late Friday approved hastily drawn up legislation underpinning the country’s coronavirus curfew, ensuring that it will remain in force at least until early March despite a court order on Tuesday that it be scrapped.

https://apnews.com/article/netherlands-bills-legislation-coronavirus-pandemic-the-hague-6945991a0703e685727fdaa3e710fe74