Valencia workers and residents demand accountability for October floods

Over 100,000 people marched in Valencia on November 9, demanding accountability from regional authorities following catastrophic floods that left at least 220 people dead

November 12, 2024 by Ana Vračar
Source: PAME International/X

Approximately 100,000 people took to the streets of Valencia on November 9, demanding that the regional government take responsibility for the catastrophic floods that devastated the region at the end of last month. Protesters called for the resignation of regional president Carlos Mazón, a conservative leader blamed for underestimating the storm’s severity. The floods resulted in at least 220 deaths, with dozens still missing.

More than two dozen Valencian organizations and trade unions supported the protest, voicing their frustration with what they described as the “incompetence of the Valencian Government.” Demonstrators stated that they aimed “to make their demands heard for a fairer, safer, and more prepared” response to future climate and social crises.

One of the central criticisms against Mazón remains that the climate skepticism prevalent on the right influenced the flood response, endangering lives. The regional president criticized universities and institutions that had planned to postpone events in anticipation of the storm, downplaying dangers posed by the climate crisis.

Read more: Widespread anger in Valencia as survivors of floods grapple with delayed emergency response

While the national government initially also faced criticism for its response to the crisis in Valencia, attention has more recently focused on Mazón’s lack of action. The regional head attempted to deflect blame, claiming that weather alerts arrived too late and that central support was delayed, preventing a timely regional response. However, his statements were quickly challenged: national weather agencies had issued warnings as early as 12 hours before Mazón’s administration took action, and messages between Mazón and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, obtained by El Diario, show that Mazón dismissed offers of support, asserting that “everything was under control.”

In fact, “under control” meant that thousands of workers were forced to go to work despite the imminent danger. Trade unions estimate that around 350,000 workers and 35,000 regional companies were affected by the floods. “Whenever a disaster of this kind occurs, it is the working class that pays the consequences,” stated the Trade Union Confederation of Workers’ Commissions (Comisiones Obreras, CCOO). The union emphasized that the immediate priority should be to locate those still missing and reestablish a sense of normalcy, including ensuring access to housing, clean water, and food.

Additionally, the regional chapter of the General Confederation of Labor (Confederación General del Trabajo, CGT) has announced plans to take legal action against Mazón’s regional government, labeling its handling of the floods not only “contradictory” but also “criminal.” The CGT plans to approach the case from a labor rights perspective, highlighting that the vast majority of those who faced the flood’s dangers were workers.

As demands for accountability from both regional and national authorities grow, volunteers continue their efforts on the ground in Valencia. They work alongside public service employees to clear debris and restore a sense of normalcy, as trade unions have emphasized. These efforts are essential for the residents of Valencia – yet even more institutional support is needed to safeguard impacted neighborhoods, especially as further storm warnings loom.