Pedro Sanchez had a battle on his hands
today as he asked Congress to approve an extension to the State of Alarm until
May 24.
He got it but only just, with main opposition party, the Partido Popular,
abstaining.
Sanchez won the vote (178 in favour 75 against, and 97 abstaining) with the
support of independence parties and Ciudadanos,
He also announced that during Phase One there will be a national day of mourning
for the victims of the virus.
While Sanchez claims that raising the State of Alarm would be an “absolute
error” Pablo Casado of the PP accused him of seeking “absolute powers.”
Sanchez said the Government needed to limit the liberty of movement for a few
weeks more in order not to endanger the Spanish people and avoid the virus
spreading uncontrolled through the provinces.
Phase One of the State of Alarm will
begin on Monday May 11.
