Emily Lyndon is a Socialist Party member, currently living in Spain. She’s been discussing with local people about the government’s flood response.
The tragic floods that swept Valencia and neighbouring areas killed over 200 people, with many more still missing.
Spain’s weather agency issued warnings of the storm. However, the regional government, which is responsible for disaster response, did not act quickly enough to prevent tragedy from occurring. Valencian authorities only issued mobile alerts after the flooding had already started, meaning people were unprepared for the disaster.
The Valencian government president, Carlos Mazón, is a member of the right-wing conservative People’s Party. He was out for lunch with a journalist when the floods began, and arrived at the emergency meeting as they were already sweeping the city.
The weeks following the storm have seen community relief efforts and demonstrations. On 9 November, over 100,000 gathered outside Valencia City Hall – Plaza del Ayuntamiento – in protest to the handling of the events by authorities.
Handprints in mud and red paint were smeared on the building with ‘Mazón Asesino’, translating to ‘Killer Mazón’. Protesters chanted: “We are stained with mud, you are stained with blood”.
Authorities cleared the building of most of the evidence of the protest in a matter of hours, while parts of the city and surrounding areas are still suffering the consequences of the storm weeks later!
Throughout the week, protesters, made up of mostly students, continued to gather outside the building, raising their demands for accountability and acknowledgment of lives lost, holding vigils displaying items covered in mud, and the names of the dead and missing.
Community organisers in Valencia have been responsible for providing support to those in need, and for cleaning the affected areas. Workers from across Spain have been travelling to the affected areas to provide much-needed relief.
Capitalist politicians could not save people’s lives, they cannot be trusted with rebuilding. Instead, democratic workers’ organisation is necessary. The anger that has erupted in the aftermath of the floods, as well as the self-organisation of the thousands of volunteers, clearly shows the potential for this.
