Kings Felipe VI and Letizia return this Tuesday to localities affected by DANA on October 29. The monarchs arrived around 11:30 a.m. in Chiva (Valencia), where they were received with applause and expressions of affection neighbors. Meanwhile, the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, was more cautious, remaining in the background despite the accompaniment of the kings, but despite this, cries of “Mazón, resignation” were heard from the neighbors.
Upon their arrival, the monarchs were received on the Town Hall Square by the entire municipal corporation with applause and cries of support for kings. Then, they both went to greet the dozens of neighbors who were waiting for them in the neighborhood.
The image has changed a lot since the first visit More than two weeks ago, the kings visited a municipality affected by the devastating cold fall, where serious altercations took place. This time the streets are already clean, without mud and with a warm welcome. In short, the weather was milder and more pleasant than that which we experienced in Paiporta on November 3.
The monarchs, who experienced the anger of the Valencians during their first visit and did not go to Chiva, begin their meeting with those concerned precisely there this Tuesday. In fact, this time there was a large deployment of security to avoid incidents.
In addition to Mazón, the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres, and the government delegate, Pilar Bernabé, among other personalities, will also be visiting. At the entrance of the kings to the square, where Mazón was previously seen, cries rang out demanding Mazón’s resignation. “Mazón, resignation”, “scoundrel“, “criminal” and “murderer”” are some of the cries that were heard.
After the kings had greeted some of the approximately 400 people gathered to receive them, the procession entered the Town Hall. Royal family sources explained that the plan was to visit some of the damaged areas of the populationgo to a temporary bridge built by volunteers and also examine the ravine area.
The words of kings: “We are here to listen”
During the visit, the press was able to ask a few questions to the monarchs, who thanked the media for their work. Queen Letizia assured that the message they bring to the victims is that they are there to “listen and share”, as well as “be with them and continue to keep their attention here.”
For his part, King Felipe said he was “delighted” and said that “it is true that the situation has already changed a lot.”but it will take time and we must maintain the help and support“. When asked if they should apologize for the “lack of diligence in the first moments”, he avoided answering and limited himself to saying that he believes “that we must be at all moment close to citizens, suffer with them and support them at all times to move forward“.
This is what they have emphasized since Chiva, their first stop. Later, Felipe VI and Letizia They will move to Utielabout 50 kilometers away, where the DANA caused the Magro River to overflow and caused several deaths. The last stop of the tour will take place in Letur, the town of Albacete most affected by the tragedy of October 29 in Castile-La Mancha and which left six people dead after being swept away by floods.
New page after a visit to forget
The visit to the affected areas is the second that they carry out jointly, after that carried out by Last November 3 in Paiportaduring which they were accompanied by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the President of the Generalitat. There were then tense moments when the Reyes, Sánchez and Mazón were received with throwing mud and other objects and insults, which forced the president of the government to be evacuated.
Felipe VI and Letizia stayed and tried to calm things down by talking to some of those affected, despite attempts by their security team to evacuate them. This visit included a second stop in Chiva, but by mutual agreement between the Maison du Roi and the authorities of the State and the region, it was decided to postpone it.
In addition to the visit on November 3, the king went to Valencia on Tuesday October 12 to learn directly about the tasks incumbent on him. the armed forces lead to serve the affected populations, visiting the Bétera base, which houses thousands of soldiers, the ship “Galicia” and the logistics base installed at the Valencia Fair.
The monarch did not forget the disaster during his participation last Thursday and Friday in the Ibero-American Summit which took place in Cuenca (Ecuador). Both in his speech to Ibero-American businessmen on the first day and before the plenary session of the summit, he raised this issue.
““It was a hard blow” The monarch acknowledged this, stressing that what happened put “response capacity to the limit” and posed “an enormous challenge”. “Time is running out and the climate is merciless,” he affirmed, defending that “in times like this, it is essential that institutions and society act in unison, focusing on assistance to victims and reconstruction of affected areas.
