Spain Floods Protesters Demand Valencia Leader’s Resignation Over Botched Response

In Valencia, Spain, tens of thousands gathered in protest on Saturday, November 9, to express frustration over the local government’s response to recent catastrophic floods. The floods have claimed over 200 lives, and nearly 80 people remain missing.

According to Reuters, demonstrators flooded Valencia’s center, calling for the resignation of Carlos Mazon, leader of the regional government. One protest banner read, “Our hands are stained with mud, yours with blood,” while some attendees left muddy boots outside government offices and plastered mud on the building.

Local residents argue that Mazon’s response was delayed, as the alert wasn’t issued until 8 p.m. on October 29—long after many surrounding areas were already inundated.

The protest remained mostly peaceful, though at one point, police clashed with stone-throwing protesters, and some projectiles caused minor damage to the city council building.

Mazon, a member of the conservative Popular Party, has defended his actions, stating he would have raised the alarm sooner if he had been made aware of the situation’s severity by water monitoring authorities. He had also faced backlash during a visit with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Spanish royalty, where residents expressed their anger by throwing mud.

On November 5, Prime Minister Sanchez announced a relief package of $11.6 billion to support flood victims. This aid includes direct financial assistance for small businesses and freelancers impacted by the disaster. Additionally, the national government will cover all cleanup costs for local authorities and half the expenses for infrastructure repairs.