The former Valencian president Carlos Mazón has asked the judge of Catarroja investigating the management of the storm, Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, to appear in the case. He has done so in a document sent to the court after the judge summoned him last week to testify –a summons that does not yet have a date– and the Valencian Superior Court of Justice (TSJPV) rejected the request to investigate him. Why is Mazón making this move now? What would he gain if his request is accepted?

The judge from Catarroja investigating the criminal case on the management of the DANA in Valencia has summoned the former president of the Valencian Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, as a witness. The summons does not yet have a date, according to EFE agency.

The 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.

The High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJPV) has rejected imputing former Valencian president Carlos Mazón at this time and has asked the Dana judge, Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, to continue investigating.

The High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJPV) has rejected indicting former Valencian president Carlos Mazón for his handling of the devastating floods. The decision, announced this Monday, aligns with the Public Prosecutor's position, which argued a few days ago that there is no "sufficiently solid evidence or indications" against the former head of the Valencian government. However, it contradicts the opinion of the investigating magistrate, Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, who had requested an investigation into the politician from Alicante for manslaughter, negligent injury, and failure to provide assistance, citing what she described as "negligent inaction." The measure was unanimously agreed upon by the five judges of the civil and criminal chamber. They based their decision on the fact that, during the floods, the PP leader did not hold the position of guarantor of a duty nor did he have specific obligations as required to be investigated for manslaughter by omission. "The President of the Generalitat did not commit an infraction (...) in matters of emergencies because he has no specific duty in this area," the resolution emphasizes. In this regard, it adds that the investigating judge was only able to demonstrate suspicions and not facts with a "solid and objective basis" of conduct that "constitutes a crime."

The Prosecutor's Office of the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community has requested the dismissal of the complaint against the judge investigating the management of the DANA, Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, for the alleged participation in the case of her husband, also a magistrate, Jorge Martínez Ribera. This was reported this Monday by the public prosecutor's office through a statement, in which it explains the reasons why it rejects the lawsuit filed a few weeks ago by the ultra agitator Rubén Gisbert with the aim of removing the magistrate.

The Public Prosecutor's Office does not believe the time has come to formally charge Carlos Mazón. The public prosecutor has opposed the request made a couple of weeks ago by the investigating judge in the case, Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, to the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community (TSJPV) because it does not yet see "sufficiently solid data or evidence" against the former president of the Generalitat. However, it does not rule out the possibility of such evidence emerging later and maintains that the judge should continue her investigation. Ruiz Tobarra cannot take the step of formally charging him herself because Mazón is a regional deputy and, therefore, enjoys parliamentary immunity. For this reason, she asked the TSJPV, in a reasoned statement, to assume the investigation of the former head of the Valencian government. for manslaughter, negligent injury, and failure to provide assistance given the conclusion that their handling of the disaster was one of "negligent inaction".

The three judges of the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the High Court of Justice (TSJ) of the Valencian Community who will decide whether to investigate former regional president Carlos Mazón—who retains parliamentary immunity as a member of the Valencian Parliament—have been identified. They are Manuel Baeza, president of the chamber and of the Valencian TSJ; Judge María Pía Calderón, who will be the rapporteur; and Judge José Francisco Ceres. On the table is the request from Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra of Catarroja, who argues that the politician from Alicante should be charged with manslaughter, negligent injury, and failure to render aid. Before deliberating, however, they must receive the arguments from the Public Prosecutor's Office, the defense, and the plaintiffs, who have until Monday to submit their submissions. Sources close to the case have told El Ara that the three judges are "very conservative" and have emphasized that Baeza and Ceres belong to the right-wing Professional Association of Magistrates. Others, on the contrary, have pointed out that, beyond their ideology, they are "very technically prepared" judges to assume such a crucial role. We now take a brief look at their careers. The most senior is Manuel Baeza, who assumed the position of president of the Valencian High Court in 2025. However, he had already been serving as interim president for some time following the retirement of his predecessor, Pilar de la Oliva. Beside him is José Francisco Ceres Montes, best known for leading a significant portion of the investigation into the Valencian branch of the Gürtel corruption case and, in 2009, for his controversial decision to dismiss the case against Francisco Camps for bribery in the well-known "suits case." This decision was overturned by the Supreme Court, which issued a strong rebuke to Ceres's actions. Conversely, two years later, he reopened the investigation and brought dozens of former Valencian PP officials implicated in the corruption scheme to trial. Ceres and Calderón also served as rapporteurs for several dismissals of complaints against former Socialist president Ximo Puig and Health Minister Ana Barceló regarding the measures adopted during the coronavirus pandemic.

"They're my personal history. If I lose them, I'll lose half my story," Rafael laments. "Getting them back would be healing," Aurelia sighs. "It is. I've already been able to, and I'm so grateful," Amparo confirms, relieved. The conversation takes place in a house in the historic center of Paiporta, the epicenter of the devastating storm that claimed the lives of 230 people in the Valencian Community alone. The table around which the three friends sit is covered with papers and photographs. Some are images recovered from the clutches of the catastrophe; others bear witness to the indelible mark of the floods. Calmly, they review each snapshot one by one. Contemplating them awakens memories and anecdotes. Some bring a smile to their faces, others bring tears to their eyes.

Maite Gómez, former head of press for the former president of the Generalitat Valenciana Carlos Mazón, stated this Friday before the investigating judge, Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, that on the afternoon of the tragedy she was unaware that the former head of the Consell was at the restaurant El Ventorro in Valencia having lunch with communicator Maribel Vilaplana and that the information she conveyed to the media about how the PP leader managed the catastrophe was based on what seemed logical to her and not on what she actually knew. This is what she told the magistrate, according to sources present at her statement, as explained to ARA. The journalist's response annoyed the judge, who replied that she could not believe that she informed the media about the president's whereabouts on such an important day as the tragedy without first confirming it with him.

Maite Gómez, former press officer for the ex-president of the Valencian Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, testified this Friday before Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, who is presiding over the DANA case, that on the afternoon of the tragedy she was unaware that the former head of the Valencian government was having dinner at the El Ventorro restaurant in Valencia with journalist Maribel Vilaplana. In fact, she admitted that the information she provided to the media that day and in the days that followed, regarding how the PP leader handled the disaster, was based on what seemed logical to her, not on what she actually knew. This is what she told the judge, according to sources present at her testimony who spoke to ARA. The journalist's response angered the judge, who replied that it was unbelievable that she would inform the media about the president's whereabouts on such a crucial day as the DANA storm without first confirming it with him.

Judge Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, who presided over the DANA storm case, has taken the step of requesting the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community to indict Carlos Mazón for manslaughter, negligent injury, and failure to provide assistance due to his handling of the DANA storm, which she described as "negligent inaction." This decision elevates the case to the regional court, which will have to decide on the future of the former president, who retains his protected status as a member of the Valencian Parliament. If the High Court accepts the judge's arguments, Mazón will join former Minister of Justice and the Interior Salomé Pradas and her former deputy, Emilio Agüero, who are the only other defendants in the case so far.

A new witness has further called into question the actions of former Valencian president Carlos Mazón on the day of the DANA storm. The former head of the Valencian government's driver has confirmed the falsity of the multiple versions that the PP leader and his team offered regarding their handling of the disaster and, especially, his arrival at the Palau de la Generalitat (the seat of the Valencian government) and the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (CECOPI). According to sources present at his testimony, the driver told the investigating judge on Friday that the first ES-Alert – at 8:11 p.m. – sounded while Mazón was heading to the Emergency Coordination Center, located in the metropolitan town of L'Eliana, and before he had even left the city. The driver's account coincides with the version provided by the bodyguards on February 9th, They placed the arrival of the Popular Party leader at the Palau at 7:50 p.m. "He was alone. He went up to the office and said, 'Now come down and we'll leave,'" they explained. The head of the security detail also corroborated this, admitting today that it was "exceptional" that he returned from the El Ventorro restaurant without security. "Normally, he tells us his pick-up time," he summarized.

The Valencian regional government will now pay €80,000 in compensation to the families of the victims of the devastating storm of October 29, 2024. The announcement was made this Wednesday by the head of the regional government, Juanfran Pérez Llorca, during his first question time in the Valencian Parliament (Les Corts). Until now, the families of the 230 victims had only received €72,000 in compensation from the Spanish government. The regional government had only provided aid for material damages. According to Llorca, today's payment is a further step towards helping heal the wounds of the tragedy. "It is a measure of justice with which we take another step towards helping to alleviate the damage of this unprecedented catastrophe," he summarized.

The wind alert that the Catalan government sent to mobile phones on Wednesday afternoon was appropriate, because, judging by the injuries and damage caused by the wind, the suspension of classes and the recommendation to work from home surely prevented further tragedies. The image of the roof collapsing onto a music classroom where no children were present is chilling. From the Terres de l'Ebre and Lleida regions, accustomed to strong winds, there has been criticism that the areas to be alerted were not selected more precisely. However, considering the number of daily commutes from all over the country to the dense Barcelona metropolitan area, it was prudent for everyone to be warned of what could happen. The increasing reliability of weather forecasts facilitates accurate preventative decision-making. But the factor that politically frees governments from restricting normal life is the irresponsibility of the Mazón government during the 2024 DANA storm. On that criminal day, partly due to the president's absence, partly due to supposedly liberal ideological scruples, the alert was finally sent when most of the victims had already died. No government wants to be caught out.

The regulars at the bar and those in the WhatsApp group were saying the same thing: that stopping the world today because of the wind was an exaggeration. That it was being done because of the DANA storm and Mazón, and that it would become clear as the hours passed that it hadn't been necessary. We don't know what would have happened if our phone alarms hadn't gone off. Maybe nothing, maybe everything. Maybe we really do live in an overprotected society. But today's wind isn't typical, just as the extreme weather events that are coming and for which we aren't prepared aren't typical.

The former chief of staff to Carlos Mazón infuriated the members of the parliamentary commission investigating the devastating floods on Monday, who went so far as to accuse him of lying. José Manuel Cuenca refused to explain the conversations he had with the former Valencian president on that fateful October 29, 2014, nor did he clarify the contradictions between his initial testimony before Congress and the messages later provided to the case by former regional minister Salomé Pradas. One of the most scathing critics of Cuenca was the spokesperson for Compromís, Àgueda Micó, who accused the former official of "covering up for Mazón" to prevent him from going to prison and thus guarantee himself "the Nescafé salary" he receives as a government official. advisor to the former head of the Council in his office as former president of the Generalitat - around 60,000 euros annually.

Following his disheartening appearance before the Congressional committee on the Valencian Community's devastating floods, the deputy leader of the People's Party (PP), Feijóo, complained that left-wing groups had "politicized" his testimony. Given that it was a politician appearing before a committee of politicians to answer for the handling of a catastrophe that has dominated the political agenda for a year and three months, it seems quite logical that the matter would be "politicized." Meanwhile, the PP's general secretary in Catalonia, Santi Rodríguez, announced a change of heart on Monday: his party will not participate in Saturday's demonstration called by the Network of Train Users' Platforms in Catalonia to protest the situation on the commuter rail network (another catastrophe, of a different kind), organized by the Cultural Leonesa football club. They can always attend the ANC's demonstration, since Catalan separatism has reached such a level of solemnity and patriotism that it is no longer even capable of jointly organizing a demonstration about the functioning of a public service.

Since nobody expects an investigative committee to actually investigate, the only remaining interest is in seeing how they do it, especially when the big names are involved. And just as Mr. Handsome donned retro glasses and devoured the Senate committee that questioned him about corruption in the PSOE, Feijóo was today just another one of the crowd who go to Congress to throw a tantrum when the cameras are around.

The Valencian Ministry of Health, the Spanish Ministry of Health, and the Carlos III Health Institute have launched a study to assess the impact of the recent storm on the mental health of the population in the affected area. The project, which will run for the next three years, will attempt to detect the emergence of problems such as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, and difficulties in carrying out daily activities. The study aims to understand how the disaster has affected the emotional well-being of the population in order to use the results to guide the planning of control measures and support services needed to respond to weather events of this kind, "improving the capacity of health and social authorities." The work will also reveal the frequency of likely depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress, as well as identify personal, sociodemographic, social support, or disaster-related factors that may influence the mental health of the victims. The study population includes people over five years of age residing in one of the 37 municipalities and four districts of Valencia affected by the disaster, totaling 608,772 citizens. The Valencian Institute of Statistics has already conducted a stratified random sample by census tract, socioeconomic level, degree of impact, age, and sex. This has resulted in a sample of at least 8,153 adults and 2,718 people between the ages of six and seventeen. Those selected will receive an invitation to participate by mail. Those who accept will be interviewed, either in person or by telephone, and these interviews will be repeated periodically to assess their progress.