The Central Government is preparing to declare an Estado de Alarma tomorrow, Sunday, after receiving requests for it from ten regional governments.
At 23.00h last night the Government held a Ministerial Board Meeting after receiving the tenth request (six from those regions government by their own party and four not) for this emergency measure which will allow them to impose restrictions on movement, if needed.
A regional government does not have the necessary authority to do this, meaning that if they did go ahead with restrictions, it could be overturned by a law court; something that has already happened in one region of Spain (País Vasco).
The País Vasco, Cataluña, Cantabria, Asturias, Extremadura, La Rioja, Navarra, Castilla-La Mancha and Comunidad Valenciana, as well as the autonomous city of Melilla had already requested that this step be taken last night.
In fact the PM proposed months ago that the regional governments went ahead and requested an Estado de Alarm but until yesterday none had come forward but the latest contagion figures in regions such as Navarra have pushed them to come forward.
Does the imposition of an Estado de Alarma mean an automatic shut down and home confinement?
No, not at all. The Government by bringing the measure about merely gives regional governments the legal coverage to impose restrictions such as limiting bar hours and population movements. However, the Central Government can, if it deems it necessary, impose another complete Lockdown.
How long will the Estado de Alarma last?
As it is an emergency decree for health reasons it initially only lasts a fortnight, after which the Government must apply for an extension before the Lower House of Parliament (El Congreso). An extension does not have to limit itself to only two weeks but can be made for two months or even longer. However, the longer the extension requested; the more difficult it is to get approval. The Government only needs a simple majority; i.e., more ‘ayes’ than ‘nays’
Is the Estado de Alarma valid for the whole of the country?
Not necessarily – the Government has to stipulate what area it will affect. Only a couple of weeks ago, for instance, the Central Government declared an Estado de Alarma for ony the autonomous region of Spain.
Most autonomous government that have requested an Estado de Alarmawant it extended over the entire country – they reason that individual ones for each autonomous regions woud be chaotic.
As it stands, the Government with the 155 seats of its own party and of its coalition partners, Unidas Podemos, together with the ten promised seats belonging to Ciudadanos, is assured a simple majority to go ahead with this measure. However, it would be better in such a time of crisis that other parties, especially the chief opposition party, also voted in favour and so, at least, give the EU the illusion that Spain is undivided in its struggle against the virus.
(News: Spain)