They criticize Pradas for its inaction and Argüeso for arriving 10 hours late

The storm, which caused severe flooding in three regions and at least 211 deadtested the response capacity of regional and national authorities.

In this context, the political leadership of the Generalitat Valenciana, led by the Popular Party Carlos Mazoncame under criticism because the alerts on citizens’ cell phones were issued when hundreds of people were already trapped.

There are two regional positions designated by management: the Minister of Justice and the Interior, Salome Pradasand his number two, the regional emergency secretary, Emilio Argüésoas sources from the Regional Administration confirmed to EL ESPAÑOL.

Both are primarily responsible for emergency management, civil protection and firefighting. They have practically no experience in this position because they took on this responsibility after Vox broke the autonomous governments with the PP last July.

Since President Mazón assumed command the night of October 29none of them made a public intervention or offered updated information to citizens. Furthermore, they do not act as spokespersons for the tragedy despite the positions of responsibility they occupy.

In his place, the Generalitat Valenciana appointed the general director of fires as spokesperson, Rosa Touriswith a rank much lower than that of the advisor or her number two and focused on a very specific area which is not linked to the management of disasters of this magnitude.

The dissatisfaction of Mazón and his trusted core with these two positions is evident, according to these sources. Since the start of the crisis, the Generalitat Valenciana has been fundamentally criticized for the delay in alerting the population.

Even if the State Meteorological Agency (AEMET) had issued warnings about the storm and Jucar Confederation After activating flood risk alerts, the Generalitat only sent alert messages to cell phones when DANA was already causing victims.

This delay was reported as a factor that worsened the storm’s aftermath, leaving many citizens without time. prepare adequately for the coming flood.

The afternoon of the tragedy

The Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi) It was summoned by the advisor at 3 p.m. to take place on Tuesday October 29 at 5 p.m. Shortly before three in the afternoon, Salomé Pradas published a message on her social networks concerning the flooding of the rivers.

“We ask great caution to residents of the municipalities crossed by the Magro River and the Poyo ravine. We have declared a hydrological emergency in these areas. Follow the advice of emergency services, do not cross river beds and do not approach slopes. Inquire at 112.”

From five o’clock in the afternoon, the Cecopi meeting begins, which took place electronicallyaccording to the sources consulted. All state agencies involved in the emergency are linked to this meeting, including the Júcar Confederation, as well as the state security forces, under the direction of the Generalitat.

The Minister of the Interior did not take any decision to protect the civilian population in the afternoon. The Generalitat claims to have received no alert on the extent of the tragedy, but Pradas was in permanent contact with these departments because the meeting was only interrupted at dawn.

“The situation was worrying throughout the Magro River basin, where problems were recorded both upstream and downstream of the Forata dam. In fact, at the start of the Cecopi meeting, at 5:00 p.m., it was reported that general increase in flows in the Magro and Júcar rivers, and the imminent declaration of scenario 2 of the Forata dam, in accordance with its emergency plan,” Confederation sources told this newspaper.

Salomé Pradas led the Generalitat’s operation until President Mazón arrived at the coordination center in the face of the historic flood.

Meanwhile, Emilio Argüeso participated in Cecopi, according to various sources consulted, but nor did he take any action on how the events occurred.

Apparently, on Tuesday around 1:30 p.m., Argüeso went to Carlet due to heavy rains. There he was in the company of the city councilor, municipal councilors and local police, according to sources from the Ministry of Justice and the Interior.

Before the “gravity“Given the situation,” these sources add, “the advisor summoned CECOPI and the entire team moved to the emergency center 112 in L’Eliana. “She remained there until Wednesday morning, when the PMA of Paiporta was created,” they say.

In this sense, the ministry explains that, although it appears on the public agenda, it was not part of the bullfighting commission convened.

We knew that a DANA could cause havoc in Valencia, but on the public agenda of both positions no previous meetings appear with municipalities or security forces under threat, nor to communicate preventive measures.

Argüeso is accused of only arriving at the command post 10 hours after Mazón confirmed an unknown number of deaths, at 11 a.m. on October 30. Ministry sources, however, explained that he was in constant contact with operations and management.

No prior experience

The Ministry of Justice and the Interior, to which the Emergency Coordination Center depends, was one of those affected by the breakdown of the coalition government between the PP and Vox.

The senior officials who had to intervene in the emergency have been in office for a little over three months. In July, Carlos Mazón dismissed the then councilor, Elisa Nunezof Vox and his entire team, who had led the department for a year.

To head the ministry, he chose Salomé Pradas, until now Minister of the Environment, Infrastructure and Territory. Pradas graduated in law from the Jaume I University of Castellón and is a lawyer. She was general director of the Natural Environment of the Valencian Government until 2015.Castellón city councilor and senator.

During his stay within the municipal group of the PP of the Castellón City Council, he carried out work related to social services and housing. In the Senate, he was part of the Justice, Environment and Climate Change and Employment and Social Security committees.

For the key position in emergency management, the Autonomous Secretariat, Carlos Mazón opted for Emilio Argüeso, civil guard and local police by profession. It has four specializations: criminology, journalism, law, advertising and public relations.

He was one of the main leaders of Ciudadanos in the Valencian Community and after being expelled for collaborating with the PP in the fall of the party, Carlos Mazón recruited him into his executive. First as regional secretary of the socio-health system of the second vice-presidency and of the department of social services, equality and housing, then as head of emergencies.

From C to PP

Argüeso was one of the promoters of Ciudadanos in the Valencian Community. He was organizational secretary of the party and right-hand man of the Fran Hervias. He arrived at Cs after passing through the PP and, before that, through the Socialist Youth of Elche.

When in 2015, the party of Albert Rivera Managed to overcome the electoral barrier and form a parliamentary group in the Valencian Cortes, Argüeso was chosen as representative of Cs at the Table, one of the most sought-after positions due to its high salaries.

Since then, he has continued to be involved in controversies. Despite his salary of almost 90,000 euros as first secretarythe leader loaded the public coffers with a coffee maker for his office. After The provinces After publishing this fact, he returned the device in a letter in which he demanded that the coffee be brought to his office.

In addition, at this stage it was reported that one of Argüeso’s advisors did not go to work. The presidential office explained that this person had not been seen in the house, while the leader of the Cs denied it.

With the arrival of Tony Canto As leader of Ciudadanos, Argüeso was sent to Madrid as a regional senator.

He was removed from his organic work due to suspicions about the accounts and in 2021, already with Ines Arrimadas As leader, he was expelled from the party and accused of inciting transfuguism after the failure of the motion of censure in Murcia.