19-Apr-21: 'Nightly curfew could be lifted before end of state of alarm'

Could the curfew in Catalonia be just days away from being removed? Catalan authorities are considering lifting the measure before May 9, when it could finish as the state of alarm also comes to end. The nightly curfew will have been in operation for half a year in Catalonia next week – and authorities say that while it has been effective, it has also taken an emotional toll on people. For this reason, they could lift it before May 9. If they wanted to keep it beyond the end of the state of alarm, a judge would have to greenlight it. 11 streets, boulevards and squares will be the hubs of Sant Jordi celebrations in Barcelona on Friday, including Passeig de Gràcia, Palau Reial and Plaça de la Vila de Gràcia, with 180 stands and 31 book-signing points there – plus 500 more stands in front of bookstores and florists. The current government partners are still unable to reach any consensus for a future shared cabinet. Criticism against them is mounting - no agreement by May 26 would mean a fresh election. Esquerra have urged for a deal by next week.  Matteo Salvini will face trial for not having allowed migrants to disembark from a ship of the NGO Open Arms in 2019. The former Italian interior minister blocked them for 19 days.  FC Barcelona will be one of the founding members of the controversial European Super League. The Blaugrana believe football needs changes like this one - but the project has been called selfish and elitist by La Liga and UEFA.    / ACN

ACN

First published: April 19, 2021 08:32 PM