Controversy Arises Over Communication Lapses Amid Tragedy Response in Valencia

The tragic events in Valencia last year, which resulted in 229 fatalities, continue to cast a shadow over political discussions as new revelations surface during a Congressional commission hearing. José Manuel Cuenca, chief of staff to President Carlos Mazón, has made headlines by denying ever requesting then-consellera of Interior, Salome Pradas, to refrain from reaching out to Mazón while he was attending to his obligations. During the hearing, Cuenca acknowledged that he had proposed a lunch meeting between Mazón and journalist Maribel Vilaplana at El Ventorro restaurant, aimed at discussing potential candidates for leadership roles in Valencian public television. However, he firmly refuted claims of having instructed Pradas not to disturb the president during that time. "I don’t remember that conversation. The president had two events prior to that lunch, and it seems entirely normal that I might have suggested she let me know if she had any news," Cuenca stated, referring to Mazón's prior engagements with the General Directorate of Public Health and union representatives from UGT and Comisiones Obreras. Cuenca further contended that Pradas never indicated that she couldn’t reach the president, stating they maintained numerous conversations. This assertion, however, stands in stark contrast to Pradas’ claims made on a television program wherein she stated that Cuenca instructed her to relay all information about the DANA (the emergency weather situation) directly to him, rather than to Mazón. "The president is at events; keep me informed," Cuenca recalls telling Pradas anyway, suggesting he was aware of the communication dynamics. Moreover, he admitted that he himself did not communicate with Mazón through phone calls or instant messages for several hours, despite making a call that the president subsequently canceled. This contradicts Cuenca's earlier statements about the frequency of communication between Mazón and Pradas. Concerning the lunch meeting at El Ventorro, Cuenca dismissed the notion that Mazón was unreachable during this critical time. He minimized the significance of the Cecopi meeting, framing it as a brief update on the situation that did not necessitate urgent contact with the president. Despite the confusion surrounding the situation, Cuenca defended Mazón’s actions, stating that no one knew the gravity of the unfolding crisis at that moment. This narrative is further complicated by Pradas’ admission of having informed Mazón at 5:37 PM about the challenging conditions in Utiel and at the Forata dam—a notification to which Mazón reportedly responded by asking her to keep him updated. As Cuenca concluded his testimony, he expressed uncertainty about Mazón's activities during the 37-minute window that afternoon, where the president neither received nor made any calls. This situation raises significant questions regarding accountability and communication during a critical response period. The investigation continues to unfold, revealing a complex interplay of political responsibilities amidst crisis management. As the Commission delves deeper, the implications for those involved in the response strategy remain a focal point of public and political scrutiny. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2