Carlos Mazón, the president of Spain's Valencia region, has resigned following months of public pressure related to his government's response to flash floods that occurred last year. The floods, which caused 229 deaths in the Valencia region and an additional eight in neighboring areas, marked Spain's deadliest natural disaster in decades. Mazón cited his acknowledgment of mistakes as a reason for his decision.
Resignation Announcement
Carlos Mazón announced his resignation, stating, "I can't go on anymore... I know that I made mistakes, I acknowledge it and I will live with them for the rest of my life." He further added that he "should have cancelled his schedule for that day to take charge of the crisis." Mazón, a member of the conservative People's Party (PP), also stated that his mistakes were not a result of "political calculation or bad faith."
The Flood Event
On October 29, 2023, floods resulted in the deaths of 229 individuals across various towns in the Valencia region. An additional eight people died in adjacent regions. This event has been characterized as Spain's most severe natural disaster in several decades.
Government Response and Criticism
Public criticism of Mazón's government focused on its response during the day of the floods. Reports indicated that the regional president spent approximately four hours at a restaurant with journalist Maribel Vilaplana while floods were ongoing and did not attend emergency meetings for a significant portion of the day. Furthermore, an emergency alert warning residents and providing advice was not issued to phones in Valencia until after 20:00, by which time dozens of fatalities had already occurred.
Public Reaction and Protests
Polls indicated that a majority of Valencia residents desired Mazón's resignation due to his administration's management of the floods. Monthly protests were held, with the most recent occurring on October 25, where an estimated 50,000 people demonstrated in Valencia. Mazón had reportedly reduced his public appearances in recent months due to negative interactions with members of the public. His attendance at the memorial service for victims on the first anniversary of the tragedy last week reportedly angered relatives of those who died, leading to disruptions during the ceremony.