His speech was eagerly awaited. Before the Spanish Parliament, the president of the Valencia region, in the south-east of Spain, presented this Friday, November 15, 2024 his « excuses » to the population for the delays in helping victims of the monster floods which left at least 224 dead.
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“As president of the “Generalitat” (the regional government), I want to apologize” to people who have had “the feeling that help was not coming or was not enough”declared Carlos Mazón in a highly anticipated speech, in which he must account for the problems that marked the authorities’ response to this disaster. “I’m not going to deny (that there were) mistakes”he continued.
16 people still missing
Most of the victims – 216 people – were recorded in the Valencia region. There were also seven victims in the neighboring region of Castile-La Mancha and one in Andalusia. Carlos Mazón confirmed that there were still 16 people missing in his Valencia region.
“I will not evade any responsibility”added Carlos Mazón in total silence, while several dozen people were gathered outside the building to listen to his speech.
Screams of “liar” et «assassin» were launched by this crowd during the speech of Carlos Mazón, whose attitude on October 29, the day of the floods, in particular the delay in sending by his services an alert to the inhabitants to warn them of the extreme danger of the rains torrential rains which had been falling since the beginning of the morning, was very vilified.
“Nothing will ever be the same again”
“This government does not represent us”shouted the demonstrators, who again demanded his resignation. Carlos Mazón was attacked by an angry crowd in the town of Paiporta, near Valencia, on November 3, during a visit by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
Just like socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, he had to quickly leave the procession to escape the demonstrators, who had copiously insulted them. This appearance before the regional parliament, which takes place both at his request and that of the opposition, was initially scheduled for Thursday, but was postponed due to the new red alert for heavy rains issued Wednesday evening by the agency Aemet weather forecast.
Carlos Mazón began his speech by recalling that it was about “the worst floods that Spain has suffered since 1962”. “Everyone understands that the scale of the tragedy and its consequences mean that there will be a before and an after in our lives and that nothing will ever be the same again.”he said.
Member of the Popular Party (right) opposed to the central government of Pedro Sánchez, Carlos Mazón stressed that the parliamentary group of his party had requested the creation of a commission of inquiry by the regional parliament.