Last night, Valencia hosted a state ceremony in memory of those who died as a result of the devastating DANA (Depresión Aislada en Niveles Altos). The event was threatened by tensions surrounding the attendance of Carlos Mazón, head of the Valencian Community government. Many victims and their families openly expressed their unwillingness to meet with him, forcing the organizers into a difficult decision.
Initially, the program did not include a dedicated moment for personal greetings from officials to the victims. However, after discussions and in light of requests from those affected, authorities decided to make changes. Now, meetings with officials take place in the most restrained format possible, to avoid provoking further discontent and to keep the focus on the main participants of the ceremony—the families of the deceased.
The question of how high-ranking guests should conduct themselves was discussed at the highest level. Although members of the royal family were also in attendance, the emphasis remained on respecting the wishes of the victims and their families. Authorities stress that their top priority is to honor the feelings of those affected, even if that means deviating from traditional protocol.
Particular attention was focused on the figure of Mazón. His appearance sparked a mixed reaction: some attendees chose to avoid contact with him, while others even demonstratively turned away. The organizers had anticipated possible protests and took precautions to prevent incidents similar to those that had already occurred at other memorial events in the region.
The fine line between respect and politics
Authorities and members of the royal family tried to act as sensitively as possible to avoid escalating the situation. They decided not to force interactions or create formal greeting lines. Instead, each of those affected could decide for themselves whether they wanted to engage with officials. This approach helped ease tensions and prevented open conflict in public.
In the end, the ceremony went ahead without major incidents, though tension was felt throughout. Authorities have pledged to continue taking victims’ opinions into account when organizing such events, to prevent similar situations in the future.
