Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez garners Basque party votes for lockdown extension

Spain which has been one of the worst-hitcountries by coronavirus in Europe hasafter a long and intense lockdown finally relaxed some restrictions and allowed its citizens, mainly healthy young adults, to step out and take a walk. All this was allowed in specific time slots and with some rules onsocial distancing.

However, as the situation is still grim and the country fears a second wave, Spanish Prime MinisterPedro Sanchez is seeking parliamentary votes to extend a state of emergency for two more weeks.

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Pedro, in his parliamentary speech on Wednesday, expressed concern over lifting the lockdown by calling it a "total, unpardonable mistake".

The country, like several others in Europehas been badly hit economicallydue to the pandemic and lockdowns.However, the Spanish Prime Minister is not in favour of putting the economy above the health of the citizens.

He has garnered support from theregional Basque nationalist party PNV andthe centre-right Ciudadanos party, who have agreed to back the plan of extending the lockdown. The opposition has not been extended their support for this decision, yet.

The economy shrunk by its biggest amount on record, 5.2%, in the first three months of 2020 due to the impact of the crisis. The government predicts the tourism-dependent economy could shrink as much as 9.2% this year.

The football players of Barcelona football club are also set to return to their practices after proper check-ups, according to reports.

The daily death toll of Spain due to coronavirus has decreased to244, which is much less than what the toll was back in early April.

(With inputs from Reuters)