By Joan Faus and Belén Carreño
MADRID (Reuters) – Spain’s coronavirus death toll slowed on Thursday as its leader said the worst should soon be over and exhorted all sides in the politically-fractured nation to join an economic revival pact as they did after dictator Francisco Franco’s death in the 1970s.
Speaking to a near-empty parliament as more than 300 lawmakers participated remotely, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said latest data showed Spain was close to the start of a decline in the epidemic that has ravaged the nation.
“This war against the virus will be a total victory … the fire starts to come under control,” he said.
Lawmakers were set to approve a two-week extension of a state of emergency, keeping most people at home until April 26.
After two days of increases, the daily death toll decreased on Thursday to 683 people in the…