Carlos Mazón Faces Scrutiny in DANA Commission: Key Questions Awaited

Carlos Mazón, the acting president of the Valencian Generalitat, is set to appear on Monday before the DANA Commission convened in the Congress of Deputies. This commission began its work two weeks ago, focusing on the management of the tragic events that transpired during the catastrophic weather incident on October 29th. Mazón is the first political figure to be summoned, following poignant testimonies from the families of the victims. This appearance marks the first occasion for Mazón to face extensive questioning regarding his actions during the October disaster. Until now, he has been notably reticent, granting few interviews over the past year and limiting press engagements to short, scripted statements. At previous sessions of the DANA Commission held in Les Corts, he merely read from a prepared statement and referred individuals seeking insight to external interviews and resources for justification. Legally mandated to provide testimony, Mazón must answer truthfully to the questions posed during this session. The commission's format permits each parliamentary group 20 minutes to question him in a structured dialogue. Among those participating are members from various political parties including Alejandro Soler (PSOE), Gabriel Rufián (ERC), Alberto Ibáñez (Sumar), and Javier Sánchez Serna (Podemos). Ibáñez, representing Sumar, has indicated that critical questions will be posed, including why preemptive emergency measures were lacking. He intends to inquire about the decisions made during the DANA, particularly focusing on why Mazón did not act on warnings that had been received. Several pressing questions loomed ahead of Mazón's testimony, reflecting the urgency for clarity in his leadership during the emergency. These include: 1. Did you disregard the universities' decision to close and downplay official warnings issued by AEMET, as reported? 2. What were the details of the phone calls you received during your lunch at El Ventorro on October 29th, and were you alerted about flooding in Utiel at 5:37 PM only to ignore that situation? 3. Why have you not disclosed the meal ticket from that day, which could clarify the timeline of events? 4. What actions did you take between 6:57 PM and 7:34 PM when you seemingly were not contactable? 5. Was there an order from you related to the sending of an alert after the call from Pradas at 8:10 PM, just one minute before the alert went out? 6. Why was the intervention of the Military Emergencies Unit (UME) delayed until nearly 9 PM, despite previous requests and urgent conditions? 7. Did you inform President Pedro Sánchez that the situation was under control around the same time? 8. Did you communicate with Alberto Núñez Feijóo on the day prior to the incident about the potential severity of the DANA? These questions expose a potential pattern of negligence or miscommunication in Mazón's handling of communications and resources during this disaster, raising public concern and call for accountability. As the commission hearing progresses, stakeholders, including survivors and their families, anxiously await clarification, demanding a transparent investigation into the decisions made and their repercussions on the lives impacted most profoundly by the DANA. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2