State of alarm (Spain)


In Spain the state of alarm is the lowest of the three degrees of state of emergency that allows the government to perform actions or impose policies that it would normally not be permitted to undertake. It is regulated in the article 116.2 of the Constitution of Spain.
It can be declared in all of Spain or parts of it in these cases:
The state of alarm is declared by the government through a decree passed by the Council of Ministers for a maximum period of 15 days, reporting to the Congress of Deputies, gathered immediately for this purpose. Without the Congress authorization said period may not be extended, and said decree will establish the scope and conditions binding during its duration. The decree will determine the territorial scope to which the effects of the declaration extend.
The limitation of rights are regulated in the organic law 4/1981. The allowed limitations are:

2010 air traffic controllers strike

On December 4, 2010, the first state of alarm was declared following the air traffic controllers strike. It lasted until January 16, 2011 and was the first time since the Francisco Franco's regime that a state of emergency was declared.

2020 coronavirus pandemic in Spain

The second state of alarm was declared on March 14, 2020, due to the coronavirus pandemic. It enforced the lockdown of people in all Spanish territory. It ended on June 21, 2020.