In Spain, the rapidly rising coronavirus numbers indicate a return to the state of alert as during the first pandemic wave in spring. The newspapers “El Pais” and “La Vanguardia” reported yesterday with reference to government circles that this should provide the regional governments with a legal basis for drastic measures to contain the virus.
The decision is to be made already today at a crisis meeting of the cabinet, the two papers continued. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez had prepared his compatriots for “very hard months” the day before and called for more discipline in containing the virus. This was the only way to avoid a drastic lockdown like in spring.
Autonomous regions asked for proclamation
The newspapers reported that nine of the country’s 17 autonomous regions and Melilla, one of Spain’s two North African exclaves, had already requested the central government to declare a state of emergency. The regions want above all legal security in the ordering of night curfews and other encroachments on personal liberties in order to avoid a lockdown like in spring with drastic curfews around the clock.
The government can order a state of alert for 15 days without obtaining parliamentary approval. For an extension, however, the consent of the parliamentarians would be required. A corresponding majority was already emerging, since the opposition party Ciudadanos, which has ten seats, had announced its approval.
hp, Source: ORF.at/agencies. Picture: stockilyapp.com
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