How Spain’s Leaders Betrayed Valencia’s Victims and Tried to Manipulate a Nation

Last Tuesday Spain suffered one of the worst natural disasters of its recent history. As of today the official dead toll is +200, with over 2,000 individuals reported disappearing. Tens of thousands have lost everything, the whole country mourns the losses, the regions affected are devastated. Memory is prone to failure after tragedies of this magnitude.

I’m providing context on why Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, King Felipe VI and regional leader Carlos Mazón (an opposition politician) were met with mud, sticks, and stones during their first official visit to Paiporta, one of the hardest-hit regions, five days after the tragedy struck. I believe it's necessary because the international media coverage has been weak. For those interested in supporting, I recommend direct donations to civilian organizations, which have been coordinating restoration efforts since the day after the catastrophe; they are in great need.

Once again, the disaster response has revealed both the strength of the Spanish people and the consequences of having political representatives who prioritize personal agendas when they are needed most. While a natural catastrophe itself is not the government’s responsibility, the response to it certainly is. Those in positions of power must be held accountable for the extent of their authority and the consequences of their (in)action.

On October 23rd, amidst controversial judiciary cases opened against Pedro Sanchez closest personal and political allies (Jose Luis Abalos, Koldo Garcia, Begoña Gómez), and sexual abuse allegations of politician Iñigo Errejón, the government approves a royal decree-law (tool of the executive branch to enact laws without parliamentary approval in disaster circumstances) to reform the governance or RTVE (Spanish national television). The decree expanded the RTVE board from 10 to 15 government-elected members, enabling a simple majority vote and effectively granting absolute control over Spain's most significant public communication channel to a allegedly corrupt government.

On October 28th, the day of the flooding, the AEMET (weather national agency) has signals of extreme weather conditions for the afternoon. It is still unclear how them, in coordination with the regional Valencia government (all political parties involved in the deadly mismanagement), and national communication channels, were unable to issue warnings until 8:00 PM, two hours after the storm began hitting. As a result, unaware of the coming devastation, people rushed to garages to retrieve their cars. Tragically, many were unable to escape with their vehicles or even save themselves. The rain, driving the overflowing of surrounding rivers make the regions affected an extension of them. Water flow reaches 2 meter height effectively destroying everything at ground and underground levels.

Wednesday 29th, after the night clears thousands of civilians start mobilizing into the affected regions to coordinate help while soldiers, firefighters and police were sent orders to not do so by national and regional bureaucrats before they can effectively coordinate support. Department heads with orders not to mobilize, grant access to their teams to access the affected areas as civilians, though without essential ground resources and machinery. Roads are blocked so access is not available to multiple regions, multitude of farmers and companies with logistical resources begin mobilizing. Unofficial channels, such as WhatsApp and Twitter, became the civilian operational task forces, with no public support in sight.

The same morning all this is taking place, October 30th, deputies assist a session in congress convened to address legislative matters, including the validation of the royal decree-law reforming the governance structure of RTVE. In light of the disaster, many deputies from affected areas depart the session to support their constituents. Despite their absence, the remaining members proceeded with the scheduled agenda. The royal decree-law concerning RTVE was successfully validated, with support from the Socialist Party (PSOE), Sumar, Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya (ERC), Junts per Catalunya, EH Bildu, Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), and Podemos. No national emergency discussions or executive decisions regarding the Valencia crisis were taken.

Days 31st and 1st. Valencia regional and Spanish national governments issue multiple communications blaming each other for not providing enough resources. The national government, with powers to issue Level 3 national emergency and State of Alarm, which would grant mobilization of all state resources including the military doesn’t do so by reasons unexplained to date. Portugal and Italy are the first to offer state support. France offers to send firefighter teams, El Salvador offers to send military and rescue resources, none of them were approved.

Criticism ensues, the population recalls that a State of Alarm was issued in March 14th 2020 for COVID management with 120 reported deaths. For further context, thousands were reported missing, hundreds of parking garages flooded, and many streets remained inaccessible, severely limiting people’s ability to reach and rescue their uncommunicated loved ones. Speed of action would have been critical to try to save potential victims stuck in their vehicles and homes. By the end of the week—three days after the tragedy struck—both regional and national governments issued statements claiming public resources had been mobilized, though multiple reports from affected regions noted an absence of personnel on the ground.

By now, understandably, the temperature in the streets is of desperation and rage towards public entities. Soldiers, policemen and firefighters have started to do their jobs with uniforms, many of them were working hand to hand with civilians without them.

Two days ago, the 3rd of October, Pedro Sanchez (prime minister), Carlos Mazón (Valencian leader) and the Spanish King Felipe VI go on an official visit to multiple affected regions. At their arrival to the first stop, Paiporta, they are welcomed with devastated people throwing mud and shouting at them for their lack of support. Pedro Sanchez abandons the official convoy. The King stays with his personal guard to speak to the population and continues the visit to the other affected regions, Carlos Mazón (regional leader) stood behind him taking the justified heat.

By the end of the weekend, RTVE (the public hijacked communication organism), reports the King and regional leader (who’s in the national opposing party) were welcomed to Paiporta with mud, sticks and stones. No mention made to our Prime Minister fleeing the convoy, which all other official national communication sources and Twitter and WhatsApp groups have extensively reported with supporting media.

Monday the 4th. In recent communications, the government attempts to downplay the reality faced by thousands affected and redirect public outrage by invoking a supposed far-right presence, a tactic likely to be repeated throughout the week to divert attention from the actual chain of events preceding and following the Valencian catastrophe. The government didn't consider the issue in Valencia relevant enough to bring forward the Ministry Council to Monday, and will be meeting today, we hope they can manage to activate the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism, 7 days after the catastrophe.

This is the current state of affairs in Valencia and Spain. The worst may have passed, but the real death toll of the catastrophe is yet to be communicated. There are thousands who have forever lost the people and places they used to call home. They have extremely tough months ahead.

My personal feelings are irrelevant, but it is important to report the why of the collective unrest and provide context to what may happen in the following days. Spain’s high quality of life has traditionally set a high threshold of tolerance for inept officials, making civilian protests over economic or political issues rare. Failure to render assistance, however, is a criminal offense governed by Articles 195 and 196 of the Spanish Penal Code.

Many have unfortunately lived firsthand the most profound moral and executive failure of our representatives in our country recent history. My thoughts and prayers are with the people from Valencia and affected regions.