A massive demonstration brought together 130,000 people on Saturday evening in the streets of Valencia, according to a government delegation.
The crowd denounced the management by the political class of the deadly floods which left at least 220 dead in Spain.
The demonstrators demanded the departure of the region's president Carlos Mazón and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
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Deadly floods in Spain
A human tide gathered Saturday evening in Valencia. Two weeks after the deadly floods which ravaged the south of Spain's third city, around 130,000 according to a government delegation wanted to express their anger against the political management of these bad weather which left at least 220 dead in the region.
The demonstrators met at the end of the day on the large square in front of the town hall to march with cries of “assassins, assassins ” the kilometer that separates it from the seat of the regional government. Target of their fury, the regional president Carlos Mazón (Popular Party, right), accused in particular of having underestimated the risks, taking too long to sound the alarm before the rising waters and poorly coordinated relief after the floods. His resignation was demanded by the procession.I want him to leave, protested a protester at the heart of the rally. Go away! You already killed us and now you let us die.“
Clashes between police and demonstrators
“Mazón's management has been indecent and he should resign, denounces for his part a retiree. The Valencian government is responsible and did not want to ask what it could ask from the central government, also a little responsible”. Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, already mistreated by the affected residents and forced to turn back when he went there last Sunday, did not escape the hostile slogans.
The massive demonstration gave rise to strong tensions with the police, punctuated by the throwing of projectiles and even exchanges of blows. Videos posted on social networks bear witness to the violence of these clashes.
The day after this demonstration, which should be a landmark in Spain, visible traces of this anger remain. “The people do not forget” can we read, among other things, on one of the walls of the city.
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More than 350 kilometers from Valencia, hundreds of people also gathered in the Spanish capital Madrid, again chanting “Mazón resignation“and swearing that”the united people will never be defeated“.
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