Political corruption and the normalization of violence in Valencia are central to 'Malpaís', the first novel in Valencian by writer and journalist Jota Martínez Galiana. Set in a region governed by conservatives, the book uses fiction to examine unchecked power and the erosion of public trust. Galiana’s narrative follows Núria, a left-wing journalist, and Alberto, a right-wing politician, as they handle a society reeling from a deadly disaster that leaves dozens dead, while officials evade responsibility and ignore victims’ families.
The disaster in the novel echoes the DANA that struck the province of València on 29 October 2024, killing 233 people. In the real-world investigation, the Catarroja court has scrutinized regional emergency decisions, including the timing of the mass mobile warning known as ES-Alert. The first alert was sent at 20:11 that evening. Technical witness Christian Lesaec told a parliamentary investigation that floodwater reached Paiporta at 19:12. By about 19:40, it had reached Benetússer, Catarroja, Alfafar and Sedaví. The timeline gives the novel’s themes of official failure and bereaved families’ anger a stark real-life context.
The novel’s backdrop is a Valencia where public services falter amid student protests over poor conditions in schools, while the regional broadcaster Canal 9 crumbles under political pressure. Galiana frames his story as a 'ucronía', blending real events with alternative history to question how far citizens might go when pushed to the limit. A fictional terrorist group allows him to explore what could happen if someone decided enough was enough, echoing unresolved anger from past scandals. The novel’s imagined violence remains distinct from the real disaster and the criminal investigation into its handling.
Galiana draws direct lines to the corruption and waste that marked the administrations of Zaplana and Camps, referencing the Gürtel case and controversial contracts such as the Formula 1 deal. He argues that such actions would be unthinkable in the private sector but became routine when public money was at stake. The author sees a pattern in which those in power act with impunity, shielded from consequences, and ultimately lose the right to public sympathy.
Violence, both overt and systemic, recurs throughout the novel. Galiana challenges the notion that violence is always external, suggesting everyone harbors the potential for it, especially when it serves their own side. He also questions the idea that violence never achieves change, pointing to historical revolutions as examples of force becoming the only recourse against entrenched injustice. The novel does not excuse violence, but insists on examining its roots and the circumstances that make it seem inevitable.
Media decline is another central concern. Galiana, who previously worked for outlets like EL PAÍS and the SER, laments the deterioration of journalism in the age of social media and partisan 'opinólogos'. He pays tribute to a time when journalists faced consequences for publishing falsehoods, contrasting it with today’s environment, where misinformation spreads unchecked, even in respected publications. The fate of Canal 9 and its successor À Punt is emblematic of this decay: public broadcasters become tools for political manipulation instead of sources of impartial information.
Galiana’s critique extends to the current government, which he accuses of political violence and relentless attacks on the central administration. He argues that some politicians have forfeited the right to compassion, citing recent events in which judicial power was allegedly used to eliminate rivals, such as the case involving Mónica Oltra. The author sees a cycle repeating itself: little has been learned from past tragedies like the Valencia metro accident, and voters continue to support those responsible.
The DANA investigation also puts institutional accountability at the center of the debate. Former regional Justice and Interior councillor Salomé Pradas and former Emergencies director Emilio Argüeso have been investigated over alleged negligent homicide and injury offenses; the allegations remain subject to the judicial process. Pradas has said that “no one should be under investigation” and described the flooding as sudden and unforeseeable, comparing it to a tsunami. The Catarroja court has heard testimony from more than 500 witnesses. A report submitted by the provincial fire service, signed by chief inspector Jorge Gil, attributed coordination of river and ravine flow monitoring to the Generalitat’s Centre de Coordinació d’Emergència. Unresolved questions about official warnings and responsibility echo the novel’s concern with the distance between political power and public accountability.
Despite his harsh assessment, Galiana does not claim all politicians are the same. He singles out Joan Ribó as an example of responsible leadership, while acknowledging that every party can harbor bad actors. He insists that the public must remember its role in granting power and demand accountability from those who govern.
The themes explored in 'Malpaís' resonate beyond literature, reflecting ongoing debates about political ethics and media integrity in Spain. Similar tensions have surfaced elsewhere, as far-right parties gained ground in Catalonia and prompted concerns about the future of democratic norms. For more on the political shifts affecting Spain’s regions, see this analysis of recent parliamentary changes: how far-right parties are reshaping Catalonia’s parliament.
Published by Companyia Austrohongaresa de Vapors, 'Malpaís' is a literary work and a pointed commentary on the failures of political and media institutions in Valencia. Its examination of violence and accountability, alongside the limits of compassion, offers a stark reminder of what follows when public trust erodes and accountability is lost.
