A resignation that does not resolve the political crisis in the Valencian Community

The people of Valencia have been facing an unprecedented situation since Monday morning: they have an acting president who has resigned, but, with no elections called, they don't know who will replace him. They don't even know if there will be a replacement at all, or if elections will be held in two months. The resignation of Carlos Mazón as president of the Generalitat, due to his disastrous handling of the aftermath of the DANA storm and his constant shifting narratives and lies over the past year, is far from resolving the political crisis in the Valencian Community. Moreover, it is the worst possible solution for the victims, who now see a real danger that Mazón's own government, or one very similar to it, will finish its term.

This is clearly the strategy of the Valencian PP in its power struggle with the national party headquarters in Madrid: to place all the blame on Mazón and maintain the entire structure he has built in recent years with people like the current spokesperson in the Valencian Parliament, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, or the president of the Provincial Council. The former is being considered as interim president for the remaining two years of the legislature, and the latter as the party's lead candidate in 2027. This plan, however, is a true insult to the Valencian people, who deserve to go to the polls immediately to determine the political responsibilities of each individual.

This entire plan by the Valencian PP leaders to retain their positions, however, actually depends on a third party: Vox. The far right now controls the timing of the investiture and can decide not only who they want as the new president, but also under what program and conditions. This is unless he decides to force an election to capitalize on the Popular Party's decline. Leaving the fate of Valencian politics in the hands of Vox is another irresponsible act by Feijóo, who should have forced early elections.

The lamentable farewell speech by Carlos Mazón deserves a separate mention. He attempted to justify the unjustifiable and accused the Spanish government of not helping Valencians when it is by far the administration providing the most resources. To insist again that no one warned him about the danger of the Poio ravine when inland cities like Utiel were already flooded early in the morning and he decided to maintain his schedule, including a four-hour lunch break, is shameful. As is claiming that reconstruction is his responsibility when the State has repaired most of the municipal infrastructure and facilities.

Mazón's resignation was precipitated by the booing he endured at Wednesday's state funeral for the victims and just before Maribel Vilaplana's court testimony. Vilaplana confirmed what was already obvious: that Mazón received numerous calls that day but never seemed concerned and that they even talked about football. Being unable to communicate that day would have been serious, but being informed and doing nothing, as happened, is far worse. Feijóo knew this a year ago, yet he still condemned Valencians to a political agony that is still ongoing.