The Valencian socialists demand the resignation of Juan Carlos Valderrama: "He is a genuine public danger as Minister of Emergencies"
The spokesperson for PSPV-PSOE, Jose Muñoz, denounces that the councilor does not answer any of his questions about the malfunctioning of the fire extinction service due to the lack of personnel and resources
ValenciaThe spokesperson for the PSPV-PSOE in the Corts, José Muñoz, today demanded the resignation of the Minister of Emergencies and Interior, Juan Carlos Valderrama, after holding up during his appearance in the Permanent Deputation of the Corts the serious deficiencies that the fire extinction service of the Valencian Community is suffering from. “You are a real public danger as Minister of Emergencies,” Muñoz stated, addressing Valderrama, before directly demanding that he leave office: “Resign and make way for someone else.”
Muñoz used the Ministry's own data to question the management of the head of Emergencies and denounced that Valderrama “has not answered any” of the questions posed by the socialist group.
The socialist leader asked the minister why between 2024 and 2025 the staff dedicated to fire extinction was only increased by two people; why, of the 18 existing units, eight were inoperative and only seven were complete; why a substantial part of the budget allocated to personnel and infrastructure was left unexecuted; why unions report a lack of material; why there are 32 new vehicles that cannot be used due to not being correctly equipped, and why fire engines remain out of service.
“This is data from your own Ministry,” remarked Muñoz, who considered that the accumulation of shortcomings shows that it is not a puntual problem, but rather a lack of management of an essential service for the safety of Valencians and the professionals who work in fire extinction. “You have incomplete, inoperative units, there are no resources for firefighters. It's a real disaster,” he pointed out.
Relationship with Vox and denial of climate change
For the socialist spokesperson, the appearance has also shown that Valderrama “ has given no answer ” to the demands of the professionals who are working on the ground. Muñoz recalled the testimony of a firefighter during one of the latest fires, who publicly called for the Generalitat to hire the necessary staff and complete the units. “ This firefighter who was fighting the fire, who was risking his life, was neglected by his Government and by his Ministry, ” he denounced.
Muñoz has also placed climate change at the center of the counselor's responsibility and has criticized Valderrama for not being able to, during his appearance, recognize that “ climate change is a reality ”. “ Denying climate change kills, ” warned the spokesperson, who accused the counselor of depending on Vox and of not daring to break with the denialist positions of his governing partner. “ How will we fight what we do not believe in or is said not to exist? ” he posed.
Less contributed than the central Government
The socialist leader also reproached Valderrama for trying to hold the Spanish Government responsible for the lack of resources when, as he pointed out, during the last fires 75% of the mobilized personnel came from the UME compared to 25% provided by the Generalitat. “If Pedro Sánchez is a climate change denier, who are you, Mr. Minister of Emergencies?”, he ironically asked.
Muñoz also recalled Valderrama's political career and his connection with the stage of former minister Serafín Castellano, convicted for his relationship with the so-called Fire Cartel. “Don't come here as if you were a newcomer,” he reproached the minister, whom he accused of knowing first-hand about the management of Emergencies during the governments of the Popular Party.
