A week following the catastrophic floods that struck eastern Spain, the nation faces a wave of criticism over the response to this unprecedented natural disaster, which has claimed at least 218 lives. The initial show of political unity has quickly devolved into disputes among various institutions regarding their roles in managing the crisis.
In the immediate aftermath, Valencia’s regional leader, Carlos Mazón, initially expressed gratitude to Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for his government’s assistance. This gesture stood out in Spain’s typically polarized political climate. However, Mazón now faces backlash for his delayed response to a severe weather warning issued by Spain’s national meteorological office on October 29. Reports indicate that he waited approximately 12 hours before alerting residents, allowing extensive damage to occur.
Critics have pointed to Mazón’s actions as insufficient and have called for his resignation. They emphasize his controversial decision to dismantle the Valencia Emergency Unit upon taking office last year. In defense, Mazón has adopted a confrontational stance, attributing blame to the CHJ hydrographic agency for mismanaging alerts during the flooding.
In a recent statement, Mazón suggested that if the CHJ had reactivated hydrological warnings promptly, his government would have dispatched alarms without delay.
The CHJ clarified its role as one of data provision rather than direct alert issuance.
As the situation escalated, 15,000 military personnel and civil guards were deployed in Valencia—double the initial response. Mazón asserted that decisions regarding military support were outside his control; however, Javier Marcos, head of the military emergency unit (UME), emphasized that protocols require regional governments to request assistance.
This exchange heightened tensions between Mazón and Defense Minister Margarita Robles during a crisis meeting attended by King Felipe VI. Amid rising calls from opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo for a national state of emergency—potentially centralizing crisis management—public discontent grew palpable.
In Paiporta, one of the towns most affected by flooding, locals confronted political figures with anger and accusations of negligence during an attempted visit by Sánchez and other officials. As tensions flared, Queen Letizia appeared visibly distressed amidst chaotic scenes.
In response to widespread devastation, Mazón proposed a €31.4 billion reconstruction plan funded by the central government. Concurrently, Sánchez announced an initial aid package worth €10.6 billion aimed at immediate relief efforts.
“What Spaniards want is to see their institutions working together rather than in conflict,” Sánchez remarked during his announcement.
As recovery efforts unfold amid ongoing political strife, both leaders face the challenge of restoring public trust while ensuring effective disaster management moving forward.
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