Eleven days after the disastrous tsunami of mud and water that hit the province of Valencia, causing the deaths of at least 220 people and devastating 78 municipalities, the anger of citizens has exploded in the streets. On Saturday, some 130,000 protesters gathered in the capital to express their discontent with the regional government’s management of the emergency, demanding the resignation of governor Carlos Mazón, a member of the Popular Party.
The demonstration was organized by 68 entities and social organizations and started from the Plaza del Ayuntamiento. Participants displayed a banner with the words “Mazòn dimisiòn”, accompanied by shouts denouncing the governor’s incompetence in managing the crisis. During the march, the spokespersons of the associations, Ana Oliver and Beatriz Cardona, highlighted the “negligence of the government of the Valencian Community”, highlighting the delays in alerting the population and the inefficiency in managing the emergency.
The activists said: “They have failed to manage a natural disaster or organize the necessary aid for cleaning and debris collection. They must leave immediately.” The march began in silence in memory of the victims, but quickly degenerated into slogans against Mazón and the central government. Some groups of protesters also expressed their discontent by throwing oranges and mudballs towards the City Hall, causing moments of tension with the police.
The discontent was not limited to Valencia; thousands of people also demonstrated in Madrid and other cities such as Alicante and Elche, forcefully demanding “Mazòn dimisión”. Banners and chants calling for justice for the victims resounded throughout the country, revealing a climate of growing dissatisfaction with the ruling class. The collective outrage is a wake-up call for local and national politicians. With a complex reconstruction on the horizon, it remains to be seen how the government will address not only this immediate emergency but also the long-term consequences for citizens’ trust in institutions. The demand for accountability could mark a significant shift in governance in the region.
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