Spain enjoys life without quarantine. However, this happiness went not all the residents of Madrid and Barcelona still have to exist hard constraints. And if in the capital of Catalonia it’s okay that they are protesting against the authorities ‘ decision to deny the capital the right to ease the conditions of quarantine. The protests of residents of the capital all is not limited to – along with citizens expressed dissatisfaction and the government of the region. Local authorities filed a lawsuit to the Spanish authorities demanding to take measures of self-isolation.
Above all Spain the cloudless sky. Well, maybe not over the entire country, but its capital exactly.
Now the temperatures in Madrid can reach 30 degrees Celsius. However, on the streets of the Spanish capital are all much hotter – there are popular protests against the decision of the Federal authorities to leave the capital of Spain in the mode of rigid quarantine.
Since the beginning of this week, millions of Spaniards were able to breathe a sigh of relief. They can once again take to the streets to drive across the country to meet up with friends and just skip the cold beer at my favorite bar at the obligatory compliance with social distance.
These moments can enjoy all residents – except those who remained in the two largest cities: Madrid and Barcelona.
Residents of these cities are still forced to comply with strict quarantine measures, which seemed justified at the height of the epidemic, however questionable at the time, as the number of new infected across the country does not exceed 1,000 people, and the vast majority of those infected, has already managed to recover. The inhabitants of Madrid and Barcelona not happy with government decisions, but they react differently. The reason lies in the specificity of the local authorities.
In Madrid, the government is the representatives of the right-wing coalition. After another early elections in late 2019, the position of the right-wing in Spain was seriously strengthened. Now, the ruling left coalition led by Prime Minister Pedro sánchez has only a few seats in Parliament more than the right. To pass legislation the Prime Minister is forced to resort to the support of regional parties, which further complicates the management task. Especially in the context of coronavirus.
One of the basic values right-wing coalition – the rights of regions to self-government. This is the basis of the Spanish society, but all powers of local authorities to disappear during a state of emergency. Then all power into the hands of the Federal government. The government of Pedro Sanchez imposed a state of emergency March 14, since it was renewed it 5 times – up to 7 June 2020.
In such conditions, the Federal government decides which regions can exit isolation mode, and where��Sumida restrictions prematurely. The Ministry of health of Spain twice rejected the request of Madrid to connect the city to areas where a beefy quarantine weakened. Began in response to a real storm.
the President of the region of Madrid Isabel Diaz of Also accused the coalition government that it “used the greatest crisis in the recent history of Spain to impose a single dictatorial authority.” The anger of the authorities was shared by the inhabitants of the city: in Madrid, hundreds of people took to the streets to demand the lifting of the quarantine. The most popular protest slogans: “Freedom!” and “Sanchez resign!”.
against this background, authorities of the capital have sued the government they consider illegitimate extension of the quarantine against the will of regional authorities.
the situation is Quite different in Barcelona. There are also people are not released from isolation, but local authorities have reacted differently.
In contrast to the wave of protests that occurred in support of the authorities in the “right” Madrid, left the capital of Catalonia, the authorities decided to compromise.
They went to the trick. Instead of “Phase 1” they introduced the so-called “Phase of 0.5”. This means that restaurants and bars will remain closed, also movement will be severely limited, but now residents of Barcelona will be able to meet companies up to 10 employees, and will open some stores, libraries and churches.
At the moment it is difficult to say which strategy of the regional governments in Spain are more successful – to negotiate with the Federal government, trying to win some kind of relief, or to protest, demanding the whole decision-making.
But it is safe to say that right from this situation, only win since the start of the crisis the right-wing parties gained a total of 6% popularity, and almost reached the level of 40%, while support for the socialists Sanchez decreased by 5 units and she is now 26%. Together with their coalition partners from the ultra-leftist party “We can” they are gaining only 38%. And it’s much more alarming sign for Pedro Sanchez than hundreds of Madrid protesting against a quarantine.
