Resignation of Valencia's President Sparks Debate on Emergency Response

Mon Nov 03 2025 21:52:56 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Carlos Mazón resigns as president of Valencia following public backlash over the government's ineffective response to last year's catastrophic floods that resulted in nearly 240 fatalities.

Carlos Mazón, president of Spain's Valencia region, resigned amid significant public pressure after criticism of his handling of deadly floods in October 2024. The floods caused widespread devastation, claiming 229 lives in Valencia and eight more elsewhere. Mazón faced backlash for spending hours in a restaurant during the crisis and failing to issue timely emergency alerts. His resignation comes after months of protests demanding accountability and has stirred discussions on the implications for the People's Party (PP) and its coalition with far-right Vox. His departure raises questions about the region's political landscape and responses to natural disasters.

Carlos Mazón, the president of Spain's Valencia region, has announced his resignation after months of pressure concerning his administration's response to the catastrophic floods that struck the region last October, resulting in the death of 229 individuals in Valencia and another eight elsewhere. The disaster has been described as one of Spain's worst natural calamities in decades.

The flooding on October 29, 2024, led to widespread devastation, which many residents attributed to Mazón's inadequate handling of the crisis. As the floodwaters ravaged the area, it emerged that Mazón had spent nearly four hours dining with a journalist instead of attending critical emergency meetings. His government also delayed issuing essential emergency alerts to the public until after 20:00, by which time many lives had been lost.

During his resignation announcement, Mazón stated, I can't go on anymore... I know that I made mistakes, I acknowledge it, and I will live with them for the rest of my life. He expressed regret over not canceling his appointments to manage the crisis directly. Although he apologized, he emphasized that his mistakes were not politically motivated.

Public sentiment had turned sharply against him, with polls indicating overwhelming support for his resignation from constituents who criticized his leadership. Protesters demanding his departure had taken to the streets monthly, the last major demonstration on October 25, where an estimated 50,000 rallied in Valencia.

Despite his troubles, Mazón attended a memorial for the flood victims shortly before his resignation, an action that angered many family members of those who perished during the disaster. They confronted him during the service.

The day Mazón chose to step down was significant; it coincided with the testimony of Maribel Vilaplana, the journalist who had dined with him during the flood chaos, before a judge probing possible negligence. Reports indicated that she testified Mazón was distracted, frequently texting and receiving calls while the floods escalated.

Following his resignation, Mazón will remain as a member of the regional parliament, providing him with some immunity from prosecution in ongoing investigations. His resignation arises amidst growing worries about the political ramifications for the People's Party (PP), of which Mazón is a member, especially in light of its alliance with the far-right Vox party.

The resignation places the PP in a difficult position as it must now select a successor while maneuvering through the complexities of its coalition politics, particularly with increasing competition from Vox in the region. The implications of this leadership change and the handling of such natural disasters will continue to resonate within the political course of Valencia and beyond.