The DANA storm is not going away
The appearances of politicians before Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra in Catarroja, who is investigating the handling of the DANA storm, are either clarifying or confirming suspicions about the behavior of Mazón and his government, as well as Feijóo, on the day of the storm. There are few surprises. It has been confirmed that Feijóo lied when he publicly stated that he had been informed by Mazón "in real time" of what was happening on October 29, 2024, in the Valencian Community. In a political tradition less indebted to cronyism than Spain's, a lie of this magnitude about an event of such gravity would mean the end of Feijóo's aspirations as a candidate for Prime Minister, and likely the end of his entire political career.
It has also been confirmed that Mazón lied when he said he didn't know there were fatalities until the early hours of the 30th, because after 11 p.m. he was already alerting Feijóo to the situation: "There are dead, Mr. President. This is a fucking disaster." Feijóo's response was also remarkable, both politically and personally: "Take the lead in communication; that's the key." The worst part is the complete lack of concern—and therefore respect—for the victims and their families. But there is something else alarming as well: in the face of a confirmed tragedy, the president of the Valencian Generalitat and his political leader exchanged messages more suited to a chat room for 12-year-olds.
It is confirmed that the civil war mentality that permeates the daily life of the PP has turned the word into a taboo. lockdownor the very idea of confining the population in the face of an emergency: "Get your head out of the clouds," Chief of Staff José Manuel Cuenca insisted to Councilor Salomé Pradas, in a WhatsApps which are already part of a certain universal history of infamy. Pradas and Cuenca together received the same cries ofmurderers Mazón must have already felt that way at the state funeral, or state ceremony, or whatever it was that was done for the victims, on the first anniversary of the flood. The crybaby... Saved This has not spared him the contempt and anger of the public, particularly the victims' families. But this, along with his cooperative gesture, may help Pradas to avoid or minimize potential criminal liability.
Mazón, meanwhile, has managed to get the Popular Party to find him a place (one beach bar(as they like to say) a cushy, well-paid, and—above all—protected position as a member of the Valencian Parliament, where he also receives an extra eight thousand euros annually as spokesperson for the rules committee, a committee that's practically nonexistent because it hardly ever meets. Mazón's activity as a member of parliament is also rather phantom: to date, he has only attended one plenary session, arriving late. His seat is located in the last row, which can be interpreted as him getting paid for doing practically nothing. This is precisely how citizens' disaffection, or outright aversion or disgust with politics, is fueled.
