Government requests final 15-day extension to state of emergency

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

In his press briefing following the meeting he held by video-conference with the presidents of the regional governments and autonomous cities, Pedro Sánchez highlighted the progress made in recent weeks in the fight against COVID-19. The figures from the health authorities, he pointed out, indicate that the curve in the number of new infections has dropped dramatically "and consequently, we have achieved this between us all, with an effort from everyone".

Despite this progress in defeating the pandemic, "the virus still lurks" and poses a "very serious threat", according to the President of the Government. "I would ask for prudence and also respect for the health rules to avoid any kind of relapse, however small it may be, because it is a real risk", he claimed.

Regional governments to manage de-escalation

Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la BellacasaThe President of the Government maintained that during the state of emergency it has proven "essential" to limit mobility and contain the spread of the virus, and that this constitutional instrument continues to be necessary to culminate the transition process to the new normality.

To this end, Pedro Sánchez notified the regional presidents that the government will ask the Lower House of Parliament to authorise "one last and final 15-day extension to the state of emergency". The current extension concludes at midnight on 7 June.

The President of the Government stressed that this state of emergency will be "much lighter" than the others and its main new feature will be that "the highest responsibility in managing the de-escalation will be definitively handed back to those regional governments whose territories are in Phase 3". The regional authorities will decide how to manage the pace and the forms of the return to the new normality in their respective regions, including changing phases and their duration, explained Pedro Sánchez.

The regulation of mobility will remain in the hands of the government, and the Ministry of Health will retain functions of cooperation and general information, and will back and advise the regional governments. Pedro Sánchez praised the work performed since the start of the crisis by the Director of the Health Alerts and Emergencies Coordination Centre, Fernando Simón, and by the Minister for Health, Salvador Illa, which "simply make us better as a society".

Commitment to eradicate poverty

Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la BellacasaAs a consequence of COVID-19, recalled the President of the Government, the Gross Domestic Product will fall by more than 9% this year; the recovery will begin as from the last quarter of 2020 and will last for two years, such that "we will be in a better position than before the impact of the pandemic by the end of this term of office".

While this recovery is under way, it will firstly be necessary to help thousands of families that were already in a situation of extreme poverty before the start of the current emergency, argued the President of the Government. The COVID-19 crisis has caused the government to speed up its plans to eradicate poverty with the approval on Friday of the Minimum Living Income, which will start to be applied from 1 June and will benefit some 850,000 households and more than 2 million people.

"Neither the Government of Spain nor Spanish society will stand by and watch our fellow countrymen queue up to be able to eat", said Pedro Sánchez, who added that "our country has enhanced its social justice, but, above all, has become more decent".

Unprecedented recovery and investment plan

According to the President of the Government, in parallel with catering for the most vulnerable, the economic reconstruction must unfold, a task in which the European Union plays a fundamental role.

Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la BellacasaPedro Sánchez stressed Spain's "active and purposeful leadership" at a European level in recent weeks and highlighted the "unprecedented" agreements reached, such as the programme to buy up public debt by the European Central Bank and the "triple safety net" of 540 billion euros approved by the European Council on 23 April.

He also described Spain's role as "decisive" in another two processes underway: the increase in the total value of the Multiannual Financial Framework and the creation of a Recovery Fund of 750 billion euros, which Spain would be one of the leading beneficiaries of, with some 140 billion euros.

"The government is committed to preparing a recovery and investment plan on an unprecedented scale", announced Pedro Sánchez. This initiative will be presented to Europe and will serve to channel much of this aid, and hence, to recover the productive fabric in such key sectors as tourism.

The President of the Government also announced a specific plan to reactivate mobility and the automotive industry, which will include actions to support the automotive sector throughout the value chain and to drive the transition towards cleaner and more sustainable vehicles.

Lessons from emergency

Pool Moncloa / Borja Puig de la BellacasaThe reconstruction of the tourism and automotive sectors will have another common trait - that of their transformation towards a sustainable model that includes the creation of quality jobs, specified Pedro Sánchez.

This priority implies changes in employment legislation, to which end the government will work through social dialogue to create a Workers' Statute for the 21st Century and enhance skills in areas of special importance, such as digitalisation, the health sector and scientific research.

The President of the Government highlighted the work of Spanish scientists in the fight against COVID-19, both at a national level and on European projects, and recalled Spain's commitment to contribute 125 million euros to support the development of a vaccine that will be available anywhere in the world. "We should never again make research and science take a back seat. Science is a driving force for progress and our researchers are a source of pride for the whole country", he declared.

Another "lesson" to take away from this unprecedented emergency, said Pedro Sánchez, is that unity is more important than ever. "We must keep the virus of division at bay; the virus of provocation. I would ask this from all of you - this harmony, understanding and co-existence. I would ask for solidarity and empathy from you all with those who are having the hardest time", he said. The President of the Government recalled that Spanish flags will fly at half-mast as from the declaration of the official period of mourning throughout the country due to the pandemic and advocated the national flag as "a symbol of peace and the future, and never of division".

Non official translation