"Mazón, resign": New demonstration against the Valencian government five months after the DANA

BarcelonaThis Saturday marks five months since the DANA disaster in the Valencian Community, which left more than 225 dead, tens of thousands homeless, and devastated several municipalities. However, faced with the lack of political accountability at the highest level, civil society has once again taken to the streets in Valencia to demand the resignation of President Carlos Mazón, who continues to refuse to step down despite political pressure. (even within his party)This is the sixth demonstration called by more than 200 civic and union organizations in the Valencian Community to protest against the management of the Valencian Government. 25,000 people attended, according to figures from the Spanish government delegation and the local police, who agreed on the count.

At the head of the demonstration, which started shortly after 6:00 p.m., were relatives of the victims and those who disappeared during the downpours, as well as emergency personnel, nurses, and social services workers. They all marched behind a banner with the slogan "Mazón resignation," a black ribbon in mourning, and a photo of the Valencian president upside down. Other signs called for elections, and some even sent the PP leader to prison. Mazón has so far evaded the judicial investigation launched by the Catarroja judge, in which his former Interior Minister, Salomé Pradas, is charged. Pradas is scheduled to testify under investigation on April 11. She claims she is being used as a "scapegoat" for the tragedy. The investigator is investigating her for her alleged responsibility in the reckless homicide of the deceased due to her failure to act when the data already warned of the danger posed by the floods and, specifically, the overflowing of the Poio ravine.

"20.11. Neither forgetting nor forgiving"

Throughout Saturday's march, protesters demanded "justice" for all the victims. Chants of "Mazón resign" and "murderer" were heard. Furthermore, some protesters carried stickers with the slogan "20.11. Neither forgetting nor forgiveness." The numbers refer to the time the Valencian Government sent the mass alert to the population, although people had already been calling 112 for help in cases of drowning since approximately 5:00 PM on October 29. This is what the investigating judge has concluded. from the audio recordings of calls to the emergency services in the ongoing investigation. Members of Compromís and the PSPV also attended the demonstration.