The 75-seat senate has passed a motion calling on the cabinet to scrap plans to increase value added tax on theatre tickets from January 1.
Senators from the two ruling parties plus the fundamentalist Christian SGP voted against.
Prime minister Mark Rutte said after the vote ministers will consider their options carefully at Friday’s cabinet meeting.
Rejection
The tax increase is part of the finance ministry’s tax plan for 2011. If the cabinet refuses to back down, the way will then be open for the senate to reject that legislation in its entirety.
According to the Telegraaf, some senators, notably from the orthodox ChristenUnie think that would be going too far.
The senate's main role is to scrutinise legislation but it can formally only accept or reject it. Amendments must be made by the lower house. Dutch News
