Spain decrees 'state of alarm' in Madrid and nine other cities
By Alexander Bueso
Date: Friday 09 Oct 2020
(Sharecast News) - Spain's government has decreed a partial 'state of alarm' covering the country's capital, Madrid, and nine other cities.
The measure was adopted early on Friday morning with the aim of restricting travel by residents from those urban areas during the bank holiday that was set to start later that same day.
Friday's move by the government of President Pedro Sanchez followed a a tense stand-off over the preceding weeks over how strict the measures to curtail the fast-rising number of novel coronavirus cases in Madrid, in particular, should be.
Just the day before, Madrid's Supreme Court had ruled against a similar measure decreed by Spain's health minister a few days before.
Authorities in Madrid argued that the health ministry did not have sufficient authority under Spain's constitution to impose restrictions on travel.
They also alleged that the central government had refused to consult them on which measures would be best.
Regional authorities also said that the measures imposed by the health ministry were poorly designed, from a health point of view, and that they would place a severe burden on the country's already battered economic motor, the Madrid region.
Some observers also believed that there was a political aspect to the tussle between the central and regional governments, with the a coalition of parties led by the centre-left PSOE and Madrid by another coalition led by the centrist PP.
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