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 The Senate was debating a bill rushed through parliament by Prime
Minister Mark Rutte's government that would explicitly give the
cabinet the power to keep the 9 p.m. to 4:30 a.m. curfew in place
after a court found it lacked legal justification.
Meanwhile, an appeals court was hearing more arguments about whether
it had ever been legal to introduce the curfew, which triggered
street protests when it was brought in last month.
In the Senate, where Rutte's coalition lacks a majority, it appeared
the new law would be approved by early evening with outside support
from left-leaning parties. That would render the court hearings
taking place simultaneously less significant. Judges may also rule
on Friday.
Protesters and political opponents say the curfew, the first seen in
the Netherlands since World War Two, is a unnecessary restriction on
freedoms.
The director of the country's National Institute for Health (RIVM)
says a third wave of cases due to the British variant of the
disease, which is now causing more than two-thirds of Dutch
infections, will be softened by the curfew.
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 The Hague Appeals Court was
hearing government attempts to overturn a lower
court ruling that sided with group "Viruswaarheid"
or "Virus Truth". The lower court found the
emergency powers act the government used as
legal basis for the curfew was intended for use
during emergencies, not to ward off potential
threats.
Police have issued 26,000 fines since the curfew
was introduced on Jan. 23 - to protesters and
those flouting the time limit - that may have to
be reversed if the ruling is upheld.
Opinion polls show opposition to lockdown
measures increasing, but Rutte and his
conservative VVD Party are favoured to win at
the March 15-17 elections.
(Reporting by Toby Sterling; Editing by Alison
Williams)
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