Catalonia Court Suspends Flood Inquiry Due to Security Threats. A judge in Catalonia has halted the interrogation in the 2024 flood case. The reason is a lack of security guarantees following a protest outside the courthouse. The decision affects the course of the investigation and the work of government authorities.
In Catalonia, the judge leading the investigation into the 2024 flood has suspended the questioning of a key witness. The reason was the lack of conditions for the safe operation of the court after a protest took place outside the building, sharply criticizing the investigation and the judge herself. According to RUSSPAIN, the decision was made amid growing tensions surrounding the case, which has been sparking disputes between the parties and local authorities for 19 months.
The incident occurred on Friday, when a group of protesters gathered outside the courthouse in Catalonia. They used loudspeakers and held banners with slogans accusing the court and the investigation of bias. Among those depicted on the posters were well-known politicians, including Pedro Sánchez and representatives of the regional authorities. Security staff advised people not to leave the building, forcing the judge to interrupt the questioning of the commissioner for water affairs from the Júcar Confederation.
This is not the first time the judge has faced attempts to exert pressure on the investigation. Previously, she reported attempts to delay or disrupt the process, including by the lawyer Rubén Gisbert, who represented the victims and filed a complaint against the judge. This complaint was dismissed by the region's highest judicial authority.
Despite the difficult situation, the court continues to consider motions from both parties. Specifically, at the request of former emergency director Emilio Arguso, the judge sent inquiries to the municipalities of Chiva and Utiel seeking information about alerts that were sent out on the day of the flood, October 29, 2024. At the same time, the court denied requests to summon a number of officials as witnesses, including the regional environment minister and representatives of the police and civil protection service of Torrent.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the mayor of Torrent, Amparo Folgado, reported the critical situation by phone to the head of Valencia province, but this call was not officially recorded. To clarify the circumstances, the judge summoned the official for questioning again. In his testimony, he shifted responsibility for the consequences of the flood away from the regional authorities.
In Spain, the issues of security and transparency of judicial proceedings regularly attract public attention. For example, in Torrelavega, the authorities recently changed the procedure for imposing fines for entering restricted traffic zones to protect citizens’ rights and ensure consistency of procedures — you can find out more about this in the article about the new penalty rules in Torrelavega. Such decisions highlight the importance of balancing legality and the protection of public interests.
For reference: floods in Spain often lead to extensive consequences for infrastructure and require coordinated action from all levels of government. In recent years, courts have increasingly faced pressure from various groups, which affects the progress of high-profile cases. In such situations, ensuring the safety of those involved and transparency of the investigation becomes crucial.
