After the passage of the DANA which seriously affected several cities in the Valencian Community, the president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, will appear this Friday in the Corts to give explanations on management of the crisis, an action which has been the subject of strong criticism and controversy.
Mazón, who in the past was a strong critic of authorities’ delayed responses in emergency situations, now appears to find himself in the eye of the storm. As president of the Provincial Council of Alicante, he did not hesitate to recriminate the socialist spokesperson for arriving late to a meeting of the Integrated Center for Operational Coordination (CECOPI) after a similar DANA: “Three hours after the meeting he appeared”he then said, stressing that the alert had been known for “six days”. Today he does not seem willing to assume political responsibilities, even if in previous cases andasked his predecessor, Ximo Puigdo the same after a fire in the area.
The unknowns about his future and the changes within his team fueled the debates. There is speculation about a possible overhaul of his government, in which his vice president, Susana Camarero, could come out strongerby undertaking reconstruction work in the affected areas. However, some voices suggest that “heads could roll” within the government. Among the names cited are those of the Minister of the Interior, Salome Pradasand the head of tourism, Nuria Montes.
Pradas has been criticized for its lack of decision in the most delicate moments of the crisis, in addition to its Lack of knowledge of the alert system. According to testimonies, it was a technician who was to inform him of the existence of the Es-Alert, a system that informs the population of extreme weather events.
For his part, Mountains aroused strong social indignation for its lack of empathy towards the families of the victims. In a statement that caused a stir, he assured that “families, the best place where they can wait for news of their loved ones is at home.” This lack of sensitivity adds to their controversy opinions on climate change, which he once described as a benefit to the economy: “If climate change brings anything positive, it is the extension of the tourist season,” he said in reference to the impact positive on Valencian tourism.
