In 1985, I covered the earthquake in Mexico. In reality there were two: the first, on September 19. The second, the next day. I arrived between one and the other. I was then a young editor-in-chief of The avant-garde. I was lucky because I was on vacation and the historical correspondent for Central America, Joaquim Ibarz (1943-2011), was also on vacation in Spain. Perhaps the most shocking scene I witnessed was seeing how Plácido Domingo led the rescue efforts in the Tlatelolco neighborhood. The opera star had lived part of his childhood, adolescence and youth in this country. He had family in the area. It seems to me that, unfortunately, some died because of the earthquake.
The singer did this because the state had disappeared. The administration was completely collapsed and minimal services were not functioning. I never thought that almost forty years later I would experience the same feeling again. But in this case in Spain and because of the DANA which hit Valencia. The fact that in the 21st century there are currently more than 200 deaths due to floods – even if they are of this scale – shows that something is wrong.
If not in prevention, which is not an exact science, at least in decision-making. Because all this did not happen in an isolated tropical country, but in a member state of the European Union. It will take time to resolve responsibilities. And of course, now is not the time. But I suspect that they must be divided between the Generalitat Valenciana and the central government.
The regional executive gave a late and poor warning. Or maybe he underestimated the risks at the start. Carlos Mazón, until now one of the most popular politicians of the PP, deleted this tweet in which he said that on Tuesday at 6 p.m. the storm would subside. Frankly, I also tend to be suspicious of politicians who wear clothes that don’t belong to them. Like the emergency services vest. He reminds me – keeping all the distance, of course – of Zelensky, who wears a military shirt all day.
But also the central government. I will spare myself what it means, on a day like this, to approve the reform of RTVE simply to place your people on the board of directors. Also by emergency route!
Without forgetting this deputy from Sumar, Aina Vidal, who declared that their honor was not to “bail the water”. The one I fell in with! Or the fact that the army was only mobilized 48 hours later. And with a dropper.
On the other hand, the fact that they appointed Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska as head, even if he is Minister of the Interior, does not inspire confidence. The minister twice disavowed by the Supreme Court with Colonel Pérez de los Cobos. And he’s a judge! Without also forgetting the two states of alert – two! – which the Constitutional Court overturned.
Even the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, one of those who believed herself personally saved from the executive, is not either. The other day, they overheard her in the halls of Congress saying that “it’s been 5,000 years since this DANA thing happened.” I didn’t know that there were records for precipitation five millennia ago.
The army should have been deployed within 24 hours. And also in surveillance functions if the Civil Guard does not arrive. To avoid the looting of small businesses. Another misfortune within misfortune.
Even if for the moment the big absentee is Pedro Sánchez. On the day of the institutional declaration, he went out dressed in black but… with a blue tie! And he didn’t dare take to the streets. All meetings take place behind closed doors and not in affected areas.
In October 2000, severe floods hit Germany. Gerhard Schröder, then chancellor of the SPD, put on rubber boots and went to visit the region. He won the following elections against all odds. Among other reasons, his CDU rival Edmund Stoiber was taken on vacation by the tragedy.
In conclusion: the solidarity of Valencians – and that of all of Spain – is admirable, but this only confirms that deep down, the State was absent in the most tragic hours. Even the president of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, once the most dangerous country in Central America, has offered help. Don’t look down on her.
