Feijóo justifies Mazón's continued tenure after the DANA storm: "Someone had to stay in charge"

MadridAlberto Núñez Feijóo gives explanations to the Congressional committee of inquiry about his role on the day of the woman in the Valencian Communitywhich left more than 200 dead, and the information he received from former president Carlos Mazón. The PP leader justified linking Mazón's future to the reconstruction efforts and not asking him to step down following the handling of the tragedy: "After the central government's lack of competence, someone had to remain in charge," he argued. He defended his WhatsApp conversation with Mazón: "Perhaps I'm guilty of being interested in what was happening, perhaps I'm here because I contacted him trying to help." He also acknowledged that he didn't know the former Valencian president was in Ventorro with Maribel Vilaplana and reiterated that he didn't lie when he claimed Mazón had informed him in real time, but rather that he got the day wrong.

The ETA wild card

The tensest moment of the hearing came during the questioning of Oskar Matute, a Bildu deputy, when Alberto Núñez Feijóo repeatedly resorted to the ETA issue, given the absence of the committee chair, the Socialist Carmen Martínez, who had to admonish him. "Do you have any information to clarify the ETA murders?" the PP leader asked her at the outset. He then proceeded to respond to every question Matute posed that referred to the terrorist group. "Do you think you will censor me as you censored my colleagues? Are you asking me about dead bodies?" he asked later. Seeing Feijóo's attempt to sabotage the proceedings, the committee chair reproached him for constantly using "issues that have nothing to do with the DANA storm." "I would ask that you answer the questions I am asking. If you do not wish to answer, that is your right," she added. And her reaction prompted a congratulatory remark from Feijóo: "It's a shame you're not Speaker of the Congress so the Spanish government can respond." "If you make me the focus of this session, I'd appreciate it, but I don't want to be," she replied. During the exchange of barbs, a PSOE deputy from the chamber criticized her responses and evasiveness: "A little respect for the deceased," he shouted, to the indignation of the PP leader's team. "Superb," ​​he retorted.

The statement before the judge

His appearance comes almost a month after She will testify remotely before the judge The prosecutor from Catarroja, who is leading the investigation, stated that on that fateful day, October 29, 2024, he was unaware that a Cecopio (a regional emergency response center) had been convened and also that he did not know the whereabouts of the former Valencian president that afternoon. Regarding the different versions Mazón has given since then about his whereabouts and actions once the emergency was underway, Feijóo said they were not changes, but rather "clarifications." He maintained that the then-Valencian president was not going to resign as a result of his handling of the situation, but rather focus on the reconstruction efforts.

Feijóo's team frames Monday's appearance as part of a PSOE electoral strategy to help its candidate, former minister Pilar Alegría, in the final week of the Aragon elections campaign, where polls predict a very bad result for the socialists"It's an election rally for the Aragonese Socialist Party (PSOE) in Madrid," sources from the party leadership told Europa Press. Following the appearance of the Popular Party leader, around 3:30 p.m., it will be the turn of Amparo López Boluda, an emergency services worker (112). She will have to appear in a week's time, on February 9th. José Manuel Cuenca to appear for the second time, former chief of staff of Mazón, as agreed by PSOE and Sumar, who have a majority on the committee's board.