Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is proposing that Spaniards adopt a permanent, casual dress code for Friday in a bid to save energy. Sanchez wore an open-necked white shirt at a press conference on Friday to discuss the country’s annual performance. “I would like you to note that I am not wearing a tie. This means that we can all save energy,” the prime minister told reporters at the press conference. “So I have asked all the ministers and decision-makers [to follow suit].” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a news conference at Moncloa Palace in Madrid on Friday, July 29, 2022. ((Eduardo Parra/Europa Press via AP)) Sanchez also called on the private sector to ditch the tie so “we all contribute to the energy savings that are so necessary in our country,” but did not specify how the measure would limit utility use. WASHINGTON POST OP-ED: ‘GERMANY HAS ONLY ITSELF TO UNDERSTAND’ ON DEPENDENCE ON RUSSIAN GAS With temperatures exceeding 104 degrees Fahrenheit in many parts of the country, Spaniards rely on air conditioning. On Thursday, Teresa Ribera, Spain’s environment minister, encouraged voters to be careful about energy consumption, but stressed that the government does not expect people’s daily lives to be disrupted. Fires are raging as parts of Spain face a record heat wave. (AP Photo/Gregorio Marrero) “We can tell the kids to turn off the lights, or we can keep the blinds down… Using the thermostat correctly is also important,” he said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Energy costs have skyrocketed for Spanish businesses and households in recent months following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Sanchez called Russian President Vladimir Putin an “aggressor”. (Vladimir Astapkovich, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) Sanchez said the government next week will unveil an energy-saving plan aimed at reducing utility bills and reliance on “the aggressor, (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.” The Associated Press contributed to this report. Rachel Paik is a digital production assistant at Fox News.
