On Saturday evening Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez made a live address to the nation warning of the seriousness of the crisis but valuing the “social response”. He also defended the current strategy adopted and has ruled out taking further measures for the time being.
Sánchez’s address was to prepare citizens for the short term future saying that the most difficult moments are yet to come. “We are at a very critical moment and very hard days are coming, for which we have to prepare ourselves psychologically and emotionally”. He said that all citizens need to reach the end of next week “very strong, very strong”. “We are yet to receive the impact of the hardest wave that will put all our moral capacities at the limit ” he said in an emotional speech.
He demanded that the nation be “united” as he continues to protect citizens to avoid contagion and to “flatten the curve” while maintaining a “morale victory”.
Sanchez admitted that the difficult times in the coming weeks will change people but “it depends on us to change us for the better.” re-emphasising that risk “is everywhere” while justifying the general confinement that has been ordered.
During his speech, PM Sánchez acknowledged that Spain is one of the countries most affected in Europe by the pandemic and has recognised that the virus has several different characteristics from those of the common flu and that it spreads much faster and is more lethal.
For this reason, he has to insist that everybody complies with the confinement measures adopted by his Government. One of the biggest concerns he stressed was the need to ‘buy time’ which is needed for two reasons : for the health system to be able to cope and to also ensure that a vaccine is found.
For these reasons, he has made it clear that he will not argue with other administrations or with the Presidents of the Autonomous Communities, stating that his duty is “to maintain unity”. “Nobody in my government is going to argue” with any political adversary because everyone’s enemy is the virus.
Sánchez has assured that he will not spend ‘a second of his time’ arguing with other administrations despite the fact that both the Catalan & Madrid presidents have complained that the Health Service was making it difficult for them to access medical supplies.
Sánchez stressed that he assumes “all responsibility” for managing the crisis to try and stop the spread of the coronavirus “This is bringing out the best in ourselves “.
Sánchez was also questioned on whether he was also taking responsibility for what was done before the number of infections in Spain rapidly increased. The question specifically alluded to the management undertaken in January to March and especially when the Women’s Day marches took place on 8 March.
Sánchez replied: “1st March, April, May, June, August, September … Until we find the vaccine. I am the President of the Government of Spain and I take full responsibility” He also said that he demands of himself and his team “greater commitment and dedication”. “We are not resting, we are working intensively to tackle this pandemic”.
Source: Diario de Ibiza
"MAN IN SAN AN" by Martin Makepeace 