A massive protest took place in the streets of downtown Valencia against Carlos Mazón, the President of the Valencian Community from the Popular Party (PP). The protesters, numbering 130,000 according to the government delegation, demanded Mazón’s resignation due to what they considered a disastrous management of the dana that flooded several Valencian towns on October 29, destroying thousands of homes and businesses and claiming the lives of at least 214 people. The delay in issuing a mass alert warning of the impressive floodwaters was a major point of contention, with many affected individuals already waist-deep in water by the time the alert was sent to mobile phones.Among the slogans was one that read: “Us stained with mud, you stained with blood.”
The protest, organized by over 40 associations and civic groups in Valencia and replicated in other cities like Alicante, Elche, and Madrid’s Puerta del Sol, also criticized politicians in general, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, while acknowledging the generosity of young volunteers who have been cleaning mud from the streets and homes since the first day. Many of these volunteers, from all over Spain, attended the march carrying brooms, symbolizing the population’s fight against the destructive effects of the dana. The main goal of the demonstration was for Mazón to resign, with chants like “The people dying, Mazón eating” echoing in the square.
The pressure on Mazón increased with the massive protest, which was one of the largest in Valencia in decades. Despite the growing discontent, Mazón has not publicly acknowledged the calls for his resignation. In response to criticism of his long lunch on the day of the flood, he argued that the crucial change occurred at “seven in the evening,” when he joined the Emergency Coordination Center and received information about rising water levels. However, the situation was approaching collapse by three in the afternoon, with multiple emergency calls, flooded municipalities, and even a missing person.
The future of Mazón remains uncertain, with some within the PP already assuming his political demise, albeit not in the short term. The Minister of Interior, Salomé Pradas, is also under scrutiny after claiming she was unaware of a mass alert system to warn the population via mobile phones. The criticism extended to both Mazón and the central government, pointing out a lack of agility and coordination between the regional and state administrations. Incidents occurred towards the end of the largely peaceful protest, with police intervention and clashes with some protesters. Despite the tensions, the protest called attention to the grievances and frustrations of those affected by the dana’s devastating impact, demanding accountability and justice for the victims.
The protesters, composed of families, young volunteers covered in mud, and affected individuals who lost their homes to the floodwaters, expressed their anger and disillusionment with the authorities’ response to the crisis. Many shared stories of survival and resilience in the face of the disaster, highlighting the lack of timely warnings and support from the government. The protest at the Generalitat Palace saw participants expressing their anger by throwing mud, debris, and graffiti at the building, leaving a powerful message of discontent and a call for accountability. The events surrounding the protest reflect a community united in seeking justice and holding those in power responsible for their actions in the face of a natural catastrophe.
