Will the EPP drown in Valencia’s floodwaters?

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A serious demonstration — the most recent in a collection which have drawn tens of 1000's of protestors — has been organized by an unlimited consortium of associations demanding Mazón’s resignation. Safety forces are on name to maintain summit attendees protected on the venue and to safe the resorts the place VIPs are staying, as feelings stay frayed in a area the place locals attacked Spain’s prime minister and pelted King Felipe VI with mud once they visited the flood zones.

<img decoding="async" width="1024" height="572" src="https://www.politico.eu/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25/GettyImages-2186804842-1024x572.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-6520128" srcset="https://www.politico.eu/cdn-cgi/image/width=1024,quality=80,onerror=redirect,format=auto/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25/GettyImages-2186804842.jpg 1024w, https://www.politico.eu/cdn-cgi/image/width=300,quality=80,onerror=redirect,format=auto/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25/GettyImages-2186804842.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"/> As a cost-cutting measure, the regional authorities eradicated the Valencian Emergency Unit — an elite fast response pressure tasked with addressing the impression of disaster conditions — and prioritized preserving the area open for enterprise, it doesn't matter what. | Alex Juarez/Anadolu by way of Getty Pictures

“I think about they don’t notice simply how tense the scenario is over right here,” mentioned Francesc Roig, lawmaker for the center-left Compromis get together in Valencia’s regional parliament. He expressed shock that the EPP had moved ahead with the occasion, and predicted locals could be infuriated by get together notables socializing, stressing it wasn’t simply the botched response however the sluggish tempo of restoration efforts that angered many.

“Half a yr after the catastrophe, there are nonetheless 6,000 elevators which have but to be repaired,” he mentioned. “There are millions of individuals — aged residents, of us with disabilities — who're trapped of their houses, who haven’t gone exterior in months … The dying toll retains rising as a result of individuals are growing respiratory sicknesses because of dwelling in homes which are partially ruined and stuffed with mildew.”

The EPP, nevertheless, dismissed issues that the convention may very well be overshadowed by demonstrations: “We’re grateful for Partido Widespread co-hosting this congress and having invited us to go to Valencia,” Tom Vandenkendelaere, Weber’s head of cupboard, advised POLITICO. “We're wanting ahead to a profitable congress.”

Forward of the summit, the three primary victims’ associations despatched an open letter to von der Leyen, requesting a gathering and calling on her to difficulty a “clear and public condemnation” of Mazón’s dealing with of the tragedy. And although the Fee president declined to satisfy with them in Valencia, in a letter seen by POLITICO, her head of cupboard, Bjoern Seibert, invited victims to a gathering in Brussels on Could 13.

The letter signifies von der Leyen is able to hear from Mazón’s critics. “We acknowledge the immense ache and loss you've gotten suffered and the tragedy you describe,” Seibert wrote. “We consider that your voices should be heard in essentially the most significant means.”

Álvarez Gil mentioned the victims are decided to make sure von der Leyen is aware of what occurred in Valencia six months in the past: “I would like her to know what occurred right here,” she mentioned. “I would like her to know what it means for her, and for Europe’s picture in Valencia, to be photographed beside individuals who have blood on their fingers.”