A Year After the DANA Tragedy: Accountability and Silence in Valencia

This Wednesday, October 29, marks one year since the tragic DANA event devastated the Comunidad Valenciana, leaving 229 dead. A year later, questions linger about the actions of President Carlos Mazón during the disaster, particularly what he was doing while his town faced catastrophic flooding. In a heated exchange in Congress, ERC deputy Gabriel Rufián did not hold back in his criticism of Mazón, labeling him a 'useless liar and psychopath.' Rufián's comments come ahead of a state funeral taking place in Valencia today, which will be attended by Mazón and the Spanish royal family. The deputy pointedly questioned the ethics of political leaders, suggesting that it is 'psychopathic' to ignore the families of victims while attending such ceremonies. The criticism is compounded by the fact that Mazón has largely ignored the requests from victims' associations regarding the DANA tragedy. Despite this, Mazón confirmed his attendance at the state funeral alongside his entire government, raising eyebrows about priorities in the wake of such a disaster. On Tuesday night, journalist Ana Pastor confronted Mazón directly, seeking answers about his whereabouts during the flooding. Aiming to hold him accountable, Pastor repeatedly asked if he had accompanied Maribel Vilaplana to safety, a critical moment many in Valencia wish to understand. However, her persistent inquiries met with silence; Mazón offered no substantial response, merely expressing gratitude, but failing to address the pressing questions at hand. As the state funeral approaches, the silence surrounding accountability in the face of tragedy speaks volumes. The lack of transparency from political leaders about their actions during the DANA disaster continues to resonate with the victims' families and the broader community, highlighting an urgent need for introspection and responsibility among those in power. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2