A new scandal is erupting in the political life of the Valencian Community (Comunidad Valenciana). Diana Morant, Minister of Science and leader of the region’s Socialists, has strongly criticized the current government led by the People’s Party (Partido Popular, PP) with the support of Vox. The reason is a tragedy that occurred in October 2024, when catastrophic flooding claimed the lives of 229 people.
Morant insists that the current authorities failed to handle the situation, responding too slowly and inadequately during the natural disaster. She believes the regional leadership ignored expert warnings and did not ensure timely alerts or protection for the population. As a result, hundreds of people were left without help, and many died in their homes and care facilities.
Political disagreements and accusations
At the heart of the conflict are not only issues of crisis management but also the political agreements between PP and Vox. The Socialist leader argues that this coalition cannot offer effective solutions, and their proposals to build new dams are only meant to distract from real problems. She also stressed that an agreement between the parties was reached long ago, and all public debates are nothing but political theatre.
Morant insists that the only way to change the situation is to hold early elections in the region. She is convinced that this is the only way to restore public trust and ensure transparency in decision-making. According to her, the current regional leaders have not shown the necessary responsibility, and their actions during the crisis were ineffective.
The role of the central government and legal proceedings
The minister noted that the Spanish government is ready to invest in infrastructure projects, but the main priority is to keep people informed and save lives. She also pointed out that during the investigation into the tragedy, several senior regional officials—including the PP candidate and the vice president of the government—are expected to testify in court. There was particular outrage that, during the catastrophe, one of the senior officials was not at her workplace and failed to coordinate emergency services.
Recalling the events of October, Morant emphasized that recordings of calls to emergency services show how critical the situation was and how little was done to save people’s lives. She believes the tragedy could have been avoided if authorities had acted more swiftly and responsibly.
Outlook and opposition demands
The scandal surrounding the actions of the regional government continues to escalate. The opposition is demanding full transparency in negotiations between PP and Vox, as well as an investigation into all the circumstances of the tragedy. Public dissatisfaction is growing over how the authorities are handling the aftermath of the disaster and responding to criticism.
New statements are expected in the coming weeks, and possibly a decision on early elections. The question of trust in Valencia’s current leadership remains unresolved, and the political struggle in the region is only intensifying.
