Mazón attempts to turn the page on the DANA by stirring up anti-Catalan sentiment.

ValenciaOutside the Valencian Parliament, a protest was called by associations of families of victims and those affected by the DANA (National Hurricane) to demand the resignation of Carlos Mazón. Inside the chamber, a speaker who has ignored any self-criticism regarding the handling of the day of the cold snap, who has boasted about the measures adopted after the catastrophe, accused the Spanish government of abandoning the Valencian Community, and raised the flag of anti-Catalanism. This is the summary of the general policy debate held this Tuesday in Les Corts, which marks the starting gun for a crucial month to determine whether the head of the Consell has managed to defuse public outrage or, on the contrary, should continue to be confined to institutional events.

In an attempt to shift the media spotlight and please his Vox partners, Mazón opted for a nearly five-hour speech—the longest ever recorded in parliament—in which he announced that he will promote a modification to the law of the Valencian Academy of Language. The new law should "perimeter" its activities and would include a name change so that the entity is called the Academy of the Valencian Language. "It would be in line with the founding purpose, which is none other than to defend our language as our own, unique, singular, and unparalleled," Mazón clarifies. This is, however, an announcement that will be difficult to implement because its approval would require the votes of the PSPV and Compromís, given that it requires a three-fifths majority in Les Corts because it is an institution included in the Statute of Autonomy.

Along the same lines, the head of the Consell has pledged to approve a law on identity symbols to "protect and promote the unique characteristics of the Valencian people," which will surely have an anti-Catalan stamp and which, in this case, the PP and Vox could win with their votes. "It is our way of reflecting the majority sentiment of the Valencian people towards this model of democratic and supportive coexistence that threatens those who want to see us become second-class citizens," he explained. Also in the area of identity, he announced that he will promote students who have to take the University Entrance Exam (PAU) exam to be able to choose between Valencian or Spanish and which of the two grades counts.

"He keeps lying"

Along with the president, the victims and families of the DANA victims were the main protagonists of the debate. First, when they protested outside Parliament, chanting "Mazón resign," "Mazón in prison," and "They're not dead, they're murdered." Later, when they left the guests' section of the chamber after the head of the Council stated that he had not chosen "between good or bad victims," that he was at their disposal "whether they were members of the association or not," and that some family members had expressed their anger at the attempts to "manipulate" them and that they were "singled out" for meeting. In a statement to the media, Rosa Álvarez, president of the Association of Mortal Victims of DANA 29-O, clarified that they had left the plenary session because the PP leader "doesn't stop lying."

The criticism has not altered Mazón's roadmap, which has promised 30 million euros for the purchase of new homes for citizens with properties damaged by the floods, checks for families with babies, aid of 500 euros for the purchase of school supplies and one million euros.

To shift the focus beyond the DANA, the Valencian president also summarized the fiscal and social policies implemented in the last twelve months, such as the consultation on language in education. In addition, he has announced that he will soon promote new measures to increase the agility of the administration – even if this means eliminating control mechanisms – and approve more tax cuts.

"Democratic Anomaly"

As expected, Mazón's arguments failed to convince Socialist spokesperson José Muñoz, who accused him of being "out of touch with reality" and described it as "abnormal" that the Alicante politician remains in office, "insulting the victims of the DANA." Along the same lines, he said that until the conservative leader "leaves," the people of Valencia "will not be able to turn the page." "The leader of reconstruction cannot be the person who was partying on the day of the DANA," he insisted, before demanding that he clarify where he was on the afternoon of the catastrophe after lunch with journalist Maribel Vilaplana and before going to the Cecopio. Equally harsh was Compromís spokesperson Joan Baldoví, who reported that the victims' families complained that Mazón "tries to buy them off" with his aid. "We know we had the worst government at the worst time," the Valencian spokesperson summarized before asking the head of the Consell to appear before the judge and explain what he did on the day of the catastrophe.

Turbulent October 9th and state funeral

Convinced that his future is not yet written, the PP leader has dodged calls for new elections from the PSPV and for his resignation from Compromís. To ignore the opposition, the conservative politician has the support of his party, which has authorized him to try to reverse the situation; that is, to try to rise in the polls. And, according to a survey published by the newspaper Levant in May [which coincides with a from the CIS post], 80% of the population believes that the Valencian president should resign. To remain in the Palau de la Generalitat, the head of the Consell also has the support of Vox, which keeps him in office, given that, with the worn-out figure of Mazón and the public's anger over the administration's insufficient response to the DANA crisis, it is the party that has grown the most in the wake of the tragedy.

This Tuesday's debate marks the beginning of a crucial period for Mazón's future. On the horizon is the celebration of the Nou d'Octubre (October's Day), an anniversary that presents the president with a difficult dilemma: whether or not to participate in the traditional civic procession of the Diada del País Valencià (Valencian National Day). Although it is an event in which the majority of those attending are conservative, Representatives of the extreme right also participate. Furthermore, this year, victims and relatives of the victims of the DANA disaster could attend, as well as other groups critical of the actions of the head of the Consell. All of this increases the risk that the PP politician will be booed and even suffer an attempted attack, given that it is a street parade.

But not attending would mean admitting that, a year later, he cannot normally go out on the street. Concerned about Mazón's safety, the Palau de la Generalitat is still debating the best option. The first anniversary of the catastrophe is also expected to be turbulent, when the monthly demonstration calling for the resignation of the Valencian president will almost certainly increase its participation. A protest that will be accompanied by the emotional celebration of the state funeral on October 29.