Political tensions intensifys as blame game follows Spain’s deadly floods

A week after devastating flash floods hit eastern Spain, political disputes and public outrage have overshadowed the nation’s initial unity. As the worst natural disaster in recent memory has left at least 218 people dead, tensions have escalated over how authorities responded and who bears responsibility.

In the immediate aftermath, Valencia’s regional leader, Carlos Mazón of the conservative People’s Party (PP), welcomed Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, thanking him for his support in a rare display of political unity. But as more details have emerged, Mazón has come under fire for taking around 12 hours to respond to a red weather alert issued by Spain’s meteorological agency, Aemet, on October 29. By the time Valencia’s government issued an alert, the floods were already causing severe damage.

Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the national leader of the PP, defended Mazón and instead questioned Aemet’s information, suggesting the agency, under central government control, had failed to provide timely data. He also criticized Sánchez’s administration for not coordinating adequately with Valencia’s authorities.

Mounting pressure has led some political opponents to demand Mazón’s resignation, especially as he had eliminated the regional Emergency Unit (UVE) upon taking office last year. Mazón, however, has shifted blame to Madrid’s CHJ hydrographic agency, claiming that an alert deactivation by CHJ delayed the Valencia government’s response. CHJ denied responsibility, stating it only provides rainfall data, not public alerts.

Meanwhile, Mazón has been criticized for allegedly not requesting sufficient military support. Javier Marcos, head of Spain’s Military Emergency Unit (UME), clarified that such support requires a direct request from regional authorities. “I can have 1,000 men at the door of the emergency, but I can’t go in… without authorization from the head of the emergency,” Marcos explained.

Amid growing unrest, far-right Vox leader Santiago Abascal called for a national emergency declaration to unify crisis management in Madrid, a move supported by Feijóo but rejected by the government. Abascal condemned Sánchez, saying, “Sánchez is the one responsible for not activating all the state resources when lives could have been saved,” accusing the administration of “evil and incompetence.”

As frustration boiled over, locals in Paiporta, the hardest-hit town, hurled mud and jeered at the visiting Sánchez, Mazón, and King Felipe, calling them “murderers.” The Prime Minister’s security team eventually escorted him to his car as tensions escalated. Mazón and the royal couple remained, with the King and Queen engaging with the crowd to reassure them of recovery efforts.

Mazón has since proposed a €31.4 billion recovery plan for flood-affected areas, seeking central government funding. Meanwhile, Sánchez announced an initial €10.6 billion aid package, stating, “What Spaniards want is to see their institutions, not fighting with each other, but working shoulder to shoulder.”