The Iustitia Europa association appeared in court two complaints against the president of the Valencian Community, Carlos Mazonthe president Pedro Sanchez and the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande Marlaska for his management after the DANA which devastated Valencia and Castilla-La Mancha. They do so for the alleged crimes of omission of the duty of assistance, omitted prevarication, reckless homicide and injury. The complaint against Mazón was filed before the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community, while the complaint against Sánchez and Marlaska was presented to the Supreme Court. At the moment, admission to treatment has not been decided.
The ineffectiveness of the response to DANA, which has already caused more than 200 deaths and the devastation of around fifteen towns, has been denounced in court. The association led by the lawyer Luis Maria Pardo accuses Mazón of “absolute abandonment” in emergency management. In a document to which OKDIARIO had access, a chain of failures and glaring omissionsemphasizing that Carlos Mazón ignored the seriousness of DANA and the existing possibilities of emergency preparedness through the Special Emergency Plan for Flood Risk of the Valencian Community (PATRICOVA), a protocol specifically designed to act during disasters of this magnitude.
“Despite the fact that AEMET alerts have been warning of torrential rains and extreme risks since October 24, the regional president, He only requested the intervention of the EMU when the floods already existed.“, omitted the civil protection law and did not request a state of alarm and, apparently, underestimated the risks during his public appearances, leaving the population in a situation of extreme vulnerability”, declares Iustitia Europa in a note sent to the media. And he continues: “President Mazón’s duty was to act and coordinate resources, not to leave citizens to face an avoidable tragedy alone.” The complaint emphasizes that the lack of effective actioncontrary to the weather warnings, represents a direct violation of the duty of civil protection that Mazón had to exercise as head of the Valencian Executive.
The association also filed a complaint with the Supreme Court against the President and the Minister of the Interior, for the omission of their responsibilities in the management of the DANA, which has been flooding eastern Spain since October 30, 2024. “The Home Secretary has blatantly neglected his constitutional duties, clearly established in the Constitution, the Civil Protection Act and the States of Alarm Act. , Exception and Seat. Despite the extreme risk red alerts issued by the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) several days in advance, which required an immediate and coordinated response, the government did not declare the situation a national emergency. In this context, the Minister of the Interior had to assume operational command and coordinate civil protection actions,” announces the complaint.
Complaint against AEMET
The legal proceedings also extend against those responsible for the Spanish Meteorological Agency (AEMET). More precisely, against its president, Maria José Rallo del Olmo, and against the director of the Valencian Security and Emergency Response Agency, Javier Montero Hernández. The complaint was filed by the Manos Liminas union, because it considers that the facts could be included in the alleged crimes of reckless homicide, gross negligence of injury and damage.
Clean Hands warns that experts around the world have alerted Spain of the tragedy Dana could cause. “The Valencia radar, according to AEMET, had been operating since the morning of October 28. The farmer Juanvi Pallester denounced the fact that AEMET radars did not work», Explain the complainants. And they continue to assure that the red alert has not reached the entire population. “This popular accusation prudently waited for the Public Prosecutor’s Office to open the information procedure, and given the time that has passed due to its silence, countless people concerned have responded to this popular accusation for that we file the corresponding complaint”, they announce.
Government delegation
The legal claims also extend to the Government Delegation of the Valencian Community. The Liberum association presented a contentious-administrative appeal before the Superior Court of Justice of the Valencian Community for the inaction against the floods in Valencia and the violation of the fundamental right to life and physical and moral integrity due to the government’s failure to comply with its legal obligations in the face of a disaster of the magnitude of DANA. The plaintiffs claim that Article 15 of the Spanish Constitution was violated, which states that tEveryone has the right to life and to physical and moral integrity.
Liberum asks precautionary measures to the courts among which there are ororder the competent administration to immediately take all necessary measures to provide protection of the life and physical and moral integrity of the citizens concerned or the urgent provision of basic services such as drinking water, food and medical care. They also call for the elimination of stagnant water and disinfection of affected areas to prevent epidemic outbreaks. Urgent measures also extend to the implementation of coordinated emergency plans to effectively manage the crisis and the declaration of a state of alarm to mobilize resources at the national level.
