Valencia President Resigns Amid Controversy Over Fatal Flood Response

Mon Nov 10 2025 22:59:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

Carlos Mazón resigns as Valencia's regional president following backlash over his handling of deadly floods that claimed 229 lives, admitting to mistakes and emphasizing the political ramifications of the tragedy.

Carlos Mazón, the president of Spain's Valencia region, has stepped down after facing intense public pressure regarding his response to catastrophic floods that killed 229 people last October. His resignation follows widespread criticism for neglecting emergency duties during the disaster and delaying critical alerts. Despite acknowledging his errors, he maintains that they stemmed not from malice but misjudgment. His departure raises questions about the political future of the region and the ruling People's Party as they search for his successor amid rising far-right influence.

The president of Spain's Valencia region, Carlos Mazón, has resigned after months of pressure over his handling of flash floods last year.

A total of 229 people died in towns in the Valencia region on 29 October 2024, with a further eight dying in neighbouring regions, in Spain's worst natural disaster for decades.

Many in Valencia blamed Mazón for the scale of the tragedy because of how he and his government responded that day.

It emerged that the regional president had spent nearly four hours in a restaurant with journalist Maribel Vilaplana while the floodwater wreaked havoc and he did not attend emergency meetings during much of the day.

Mazón's government also failed to issue an emergency alert to Valencia residents, warning them of the floods until after 20:00, by which point dozens of people had already died.

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, Mazón said during his resignation announcement, adding he should have canceled his schedule for that day to manage the crisis.

Polling indicated a vast majority in Valencia wanted him to step down due to the floods' fallout.

Monthly protests demanding his resignation culminated in a large demonstration on 25 October, where around 50,000 people rallied in Valencia. His infrequent public appearances recently came as a result of the public's negative reception.

His decision to attend the memorial for the flood victims stirred anger among the families affected, who expressed their grievances during the ceremony.

The resignation announcement coincided with Vilaplana's testimony before a judge investigating possible negligence surrounding the flood response. Reports suggested she revealed that Mazón was preoccupied with his phone during their lunch meet.

Even with his resignation, Mazón will remain a member of the regional parliament, shielding him from immediate legal repercussions.

During his speech, he also directed criticism towards the left-wing central government led by Pedro Sánchez, accusing them of obstructing aid to Valencia.

The implications of Mazón's resignation extend beyond his personal career; it signals challenges for the People's Party as they navigate electoral strategies amid an increasing presence of the far-right Vox party in the region.

PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo supported Mazón by downplaying the political fallout, asserting that the crisis response is not solely the responsibility of one individual.