For the fourth time, demonstrators flooded the streets of Valencia on Saturday, calling for the resignation of regional president Carlos Mazón. The protesters accused Mazón and his government of mishandling the deadly floods that struck the region last October.
Thousands of Valencia residents marched through the city center, demanding accountability for the administration’s failures. More than 200 civic, social, and trade union organizations coordinated the demonstration. Though smaller than previous protests, city officials estimated the crowd at around 25,000 people.
Government Faces Backlash Over Delayed Response
Mazón faces intense criticism over his administration’s failure to issue timely flood alerts. Citizens only received warnings hours after the flooding had already begun. The disaster killed 224 people and left thousands homeless.
Many residents also blame the government’s slow and disorganized response. Volunteers were the first to reach some of the worst-hit areas, providing immediate assistance. Meanwhile, the regional government struggled to mobilize emergency forces, taking several days to deploy police reinforcements and military aid from the central government.
Survivors, facing a long and expensive rebuilding process, say they have yet to receive sufficient financial support from authorities. They accuse Mazón’s administration of dragging its feet on disaster relief efforts.
Mazón Defends His Administration’s Actions
Despite mounting public outrage, Mazón insists that his government acted appropriately given the scale of the disaster. He argues that the flooding was unpredictable and claims his administration received insufficient warnings from national authorities.
Critics, however, reject his defense, pointing to the delayed alerts, slow response, and lack of aid. The protests reflect deep frustration over the handling of one of the deadliest natural disasters in the region’s history.
With thousands displaced and public anger growing, Mazón’s political future remains uncertain.