The serious incidents in Paiporta on Sunday have prompted all parliamentary groups except Vox to express their willingness to support the emergency measures to be approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday in response to the damages caused by the storm. Minister Félix Bolaños held 11 brief meetings with the spokespersons of all parliamentary groups and parties represented in the lower house of parliament, except for the far-right Vox party. He expressed his gratitude for the positive tone and willingness shown by all parties not only to validate the decree but also to propose and negotiate further actions. Bolaños indicated a desire for continued collaboration with the PP, even though political bridges with the party had previously been broken. The government does not currently see the need to declare a national emergency, aligning with the position of the Valencian PP president Carlos Mazón.
Bolaños met with political spokespersons from 4 pm to 8 pm, listening to their proposals and announcing the government’s plans to declare the affected areas as catastrophe zones and provide aid through a decree. He emphasized the need for unity and collaboration in the face of the country’s social climate, stating that all parties had committed to validate the decree. Despite differing opinions on certain issues, Bolaños avoided conflict and highlighted the positive tone of the conversations, particularly with the PP spokesperson Miguel Tellado. The government aims to maintain this dialogue and cooperation in the coming weeks or months during the reconstruction phase.
The PP did not have a spokesperson present, but party sources clarified that they had not received any relevant information from the government. They expressed a willingness to work together and focus on helping those affected by the storm. Podemos, on the other hand, took a critical stance, with party leader Ione Belarra criticizing the government for not declaring a state of emergency and blaming all levels of government involved in the rescue operations, particularly targeting the Valencian Community led by Carlos Mazón. Podemos proposed a universal basic income for affected residents, suspension of rent and mortgage payments, and price controls on essential goods.
Podemos’s proposals were discussed with Bolaños, who seemed more inclined towards a decree focused on providing aid for the recovery of homes and businesses, similar to the response to the volcano eruption in La Palma. Other parties such as PNV, EH Bildu, BNG, Junts, Coalición Canaria, and UPN expressed their full support for the government’s measures. ERC spokesperson Gabriel Rufián, who participated in the meeting remotely, called for improvements to the decree and requested a special session in parliament to thoroughly discuss the details of the catastrophe. The government’s response to the storm and its aftermath has sparked varied reactions from different political groups, with a focus on collaboration and aid for those affected being the common goal.
