Some 130,000 people have taken to the streets of Valencia this Saturday in a massive demonstration called under the slogan ‘Mazón dimissió’ to demand the immediate resignation of the president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, and his government team for the “incompetence” shown during the recent DANA that devastated much of the province. The march, planned as a silent tribute to the victims of the catastrophe, has been marked by strong slogans against the management of the Valencian government. Among the chants were heard phrases like ‘El president a Picassent’, ‘Les nostres mans tenen fang i les vostres sang’ and ‘El pueblo unido jamás será vencido’, while banners were displayed with phrases like “Where was Mazón while the people drowned?” and ‘Mazón, dimisión’ signs adorned with black ribbons as a sign of mourning.
Lack of prevention and delayed reaction denounced
The spokespersons of the march, among them Mariló Gradolí, Maite Fontana and Sandra Cuevas, recalled how, on October 29, the storm left hundreds of victims and thousands of people affected in the region. According to them, the Valencian government did not issue warnings to the population until 8:00 p.m., when the working day had already ended and a large part of the affected area was flooded. In the manifesto read in Plaza Manises, the protesters stressed that the Generalitat, far from acting diligently, limited itself to “trying to cover up the negligence”. They blamed the crisis on factors such as climate change denial, urban speculation and the lack of adequate response from the Consell at critical moments.
They demand measures to avoid new tragedies
The people gathered not only demand the resignation of Mazón, but also the initiation of legal proceedings to determine responsibilities, the creation of alternative housing for those affected, the prohibition of construction in flood zones and the reinvention of the “illegitimate debt” in health, education and emergency services. They also urge the Spanish government to take a firm stance to ensure a coordinated and effective response in future emergencies.
Incidents at the end of the demonstration
The day culminated with tense moments in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento, where some demonstrators threw mud against the town hall building and threw flares. This led to police charges and clashes in which the agents were rebuked with the cry ‘I would be ashamed to be a policeman’. The València City Council denounced attempts to burn the door of the consistory, as well as the appearance of graffiti on the facade that read ‘El poble no oblida’ and ‘asesino’.
