Sánchez will hold a state funeral for the victims of the DANA

ValenciaA secular state funeral, a plan to protect the population and minimize flood risks, and the inclusion of the families of the victims of the DANA (National Flood Damage) in the commission of inquiry organized by the Congress of Deputies. The meeting held this Thursday between the three main associations of victims of the disaster and Spanish President Pedro Sánchez resulted in three major agreements and the feeling among those affected that, unlike the Valencian government, the state government is willing to listen to them.

Those in charge of explaining how the meeting went were the same entities, who did not hesitate to describe it as "as long [it lasted almost three hours] as it was fruitful", according to Rosa Álvarez, president of the Association of Mortal Victims of Dana 29-O, who highlighted the facts. "The treatment was empathetic and educational", added Christian Lesaec, spokesperson for the Association of Victims of Dana Horta Sud - Valencia.

Delay of the meeting

The only criticism Sánchez has received is that the meeting took place seven months after the catastrophe. "It's a bit late," Lesaec acknowledged. "The step," emphasized Álvarez, who also accused the Popular Party leader of "continuing to lie" when he stated yesterday that he always has his doors open to the victims and that he has attended to them "the way they wanted." So far, the politician from Alicante has only met with some relatives in a personal capacity, and has asked him to resign.

Regarding the agreements reached between Sánchez and the associations, it has only been announced that the state funeral will take place in Valencia on the first anniversary of the catastrophe and that the plan to minimize the risks from the floods will include works in the main ravines, Gallego and Poio. It also said that the Spanish president will soon visit the most affected area and that compensation from the Insurance Consortium for affected businesses will be accelerated.

Meeting in Brussels

The three entities that participated in the meeting are the same ones that met last week in Brussels with the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, as well as with three MEPs from the PP, including the Valencian Esteban González Pons, who asked them for " In fact, and as the ARA was told by the associations of victims, they were warned of today's meeting with little more than 24 hours in advance, which makes them think that the meeting "is a response" to their meeting with Von der Leyen.

Today is Pedro Sánchez's fourth visit to the Valencian Country related to the DANA, after that of October 31, when he went to the Emergency Coordination Center of the Generalitat, that of November 3 in Paiporta and that of January 23, when he met with the areas in Valencia. He then visited army units that helped in the repair of Damage. This Thursday, in addition to meeting with victims' associations, the Spanish president also visited to learn firsthand about the situation of several companies affected by the disaster.