Pedro Sanchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, expects that he will have to extend the current state of emergency within two weeks.

If this is the case, it would mean that the instruction would be in place until almost mid-May at the earliest.

“I am confident that in 15 days I will be here again to ask for another extension of the state of emergency,” Sanchez told the Congress of Deputies on Thursday.

“If I asked for a month, the opposition would criticise me…”

On the other hand, Spain’s Minister of Health, Salvador Illa, last Wednesday dissociated himself from the line of Maria Jesus Montero, the Minister of Finance and Government Spokesperson, and did not want to talk about relaxing the measures taken to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Illa assured in his appearance before the Congress’ Health Commission that “we are in the toughest moment” of the coronavirus pandemic in Spain and that it was not the time to talk about relaxing the measures adopted, including confinement.

“It is not the time to call for relaxation,” he said, “we would be wrong.”

Although he did not deny that from April 26 there can be a gradual return to normal life, he did not want to close any scenario, hence the possibility of a further extension of the state of emergency in Spain until May 10 is an option that is still on the table.