The judge in the DANA case summons Carlos Mazón

ValenciaThe moment has arrived. The judge in Catarroja presiding over the criminal case concerning the devastating floods in the Valencian Community has summoned former regional president Carlos Mazón as a witness. The summons, which has not yet been dated, includes a request for him to voluntarily provide any messages and calls from October 29, 2024, related to the handling of the tragedy.

Why now? Nuria Ruiz Tobarra already tried this some time ago, offering Mazón the opportunity to testify voluntarily on three separate occasions. The former president rejected this proposal, as he also declined to provide any documentation to the court. Tobarra cannot formally charge Mazón because he retains his protected status as a regional deputy, but she has a new element that she believes allows her to summon him as a witness: the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJPV), the only court with the authority to do so. has rejected the magistrate's request to investigate Mazón.

Unlike the defendants, as a witness, Mazón will be obligated to tell the truth when questioned. Could he be charged later? Yes, and this possibility could lead the former president's defense to appeal the summons. Tobarra maintains that the TSJPV's refusal to investigate the former president completely excludes his responsibility for negligence, as he did not hold the position of guarantor. The five judges of the high court pointed out that regional legislation does not assign the head of the Consell (Valencian Government) specific duties within the civil protection and emergency management regulations, and that it places sole command of the emergency on the head of the relevant ministry, which in the Valencian case on that tragic day was Salomé Pradas. In other words, the TSJPV's decision could suggest that Mazón will not ultimately be charged as responsible and, therefore, can be summoned as a witness.

In Tuesday's ruling, the investigating judge also emphasizes that the high court "does not find any active involvement" on the part of Mazón in the delay of sending the ES-Alert. She refers to the fact that the five members of the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the Basque Country High Court have determined that "concrete and precise" evidence must be presented to demonstrate that "the measures adopted or not adopted" by the Generalitat were decisive in the 230 deaths, and that the so-called "causal link" "cannot be established in generic or vague terms."

However, the same judge adds that it is unknown where the ongoing investigation might lead: "It is not feasible to make a future judgment regarding the evidence obtained during the investigation that could result in Mr. Mazón's potential criminal liability." In fact, the Valencian High Court granted Tobarra the authority to continue investigating and did not rule out reconsidering the charges should the investigation ultimately make it necessary.

The judge has also decided to summon the main suspect in the case, former Minister of the Interior and Justice Salomé Pradas, again to undergo a handwriting analysis of a document submitted by the Deputy Director General of Emergencies, Jorge Suárez, who has also been summoned again. This document, according to Suárez, contains instructions regarding the ES-Alert system and was allegedly given to him by Pradas during the Cecopi meeting on October 29.

The spokesperson for the Consell will also testify

In the same ruling, the investigating judge also ordered that Ruth Merino, who was the spokesperson for the Consell during the DANA storm, and several mayors testify, requesting that they voluntarily provide lists of their incoming and outgoing calls and messages from that day with various authorities and members of the Cecopi (Emergency Coordination Center). She also offered Vice President Susana Camarero the opportunity to voluntarily provide her messages and calls, pending her testimony as a witness.