Valencia’s regional president, Carlos Mazon, has announced a formal investigation into his administration’s response to the catastrophic storm known as the DANA, which struck the region on 29 October, leaving over 200 dead and thousands displaced.
Speaking at Les Corts Valencianes on Friday, Mazon called for a similar inquiry to be launched at the national level. Meanwhile, he attempted to distribute blame and raise questions about existing emergency protocols.
Mazon, who has faced increasing scrutiny and calls for his resignation, including from a large demonstration in Valencia earlier this week, addressed the regional parliament with a mix of contrition and defiance. “I will not deny the failures,” he said, acknowledging the grievances of those who felt that assistance was slow or insufficient. He did, however, deflect some criticism onto other bodies. Hereunder, the Confederación Hidrográfica del Júcar, which he accused of only issuing a “simple email” to warn of the severe flooding on 29 October. “No one alerted us to the disastrous consequences of the river level rise,” he added.
Minute of silence
The session began with a minute of silence for the victims of the floods. However, it quickly escalated into a political showdown. Members of opposition parties, including PSPV, Compromís, and Vox, were unanimous in their demand for Mazon to take responsibility. The Socialist Party spokesperson, José Muñoz, called for caution but suggested that Mazon’s resignation was a logical next step should he fail to convincingly explain his actions. Compromís’ leader, Joan Baldoví, went further, stating that if Mazon refused to resign, they would consider pushing for a vote of no confidence.
Meanwhile, Vox’s spokesperson, José María Llanos, called for accountability from the regional government. Additionally, he pointed fingers at Spain’s central government under Pedro Sánchez, accusing it of abandoning Valencia in a time of dire need.
No intention to resign
Despite the mounting pressure, Mazon’s allies were clear: resignation was off the table. Juanfran Pérez Llorca, leader of the Popular Party’s parliamentary group, insisted that Mazon was the right person to lead the region through the recovery phase. He stressed: “Who better to guide us through this crisis than the president chosen by the people of Valencia?”
Mazon detailed the measures taken during and after the storm. Furthermore, he reiterated his intention to conduct a thorough examination of all involved agencies’ actions, emphasising the need for reflection and improvement. “Every administration must humbly acknowledge potential errors,” he said, attempting to strike a balanced tone amidst growing public unrest.
The pressure on Mazon is far from over, with opposition groups and the public expecting more concrete answers and, for some, a leadership change. For now, the president has bought himself some time, but the clouds over his administration show little sign of clearing.