Spain's King and Queen, Top Officials, Pelted With Mud Over Flood Response

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Facts

  • Public tension rose this weekend after Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, alongside Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Valencia's regional governor Carlos Mazón, visited one of the worst-hit regions in the country's recent flooding that has killed over 200 people.[1][2]
  • Crowds in the town of Paiporta — where over 60 died from the floods — shouted 'Killers!' and 'Get out!' as the leaders carried out their visit. Others hurled clots of mud and other objects, including rocks, with two bodyguards reportedly injured.[2]
  • Sánchez and Mazón were forced to seek protection and were quickly whisked away by their security details. Meanwhile, the king and queen insisted on staying and could be seen engaging with a number of residents.[3][4]
  • The anger stemmed from a belief that the government's response to floods was inadequate, as many people remain without drinking water or sufficient internet and cell phone coverage. Power was only restored on Saturday and many streets remain clogged with mud, totaled cars, and debris.[4]
  • The king posted on social media that he understood the 'anger and frustration,' while Sánchez said he acknowledges 'the anguish, suffering, uncertainty and the needs' of disaster survivors. Sánchez also said Sunday's incident would not derail recovery efforts.[3][5]
  • Additional storms brought more heavy rain to a region on Sunday and Monday amid response and recovery operations for the previous catastrophic floods.[3][6]

Sources: [1]Guardian, [2]Associated Press, [3]BBC News, [4]AP News, [5]NY Post and [6]Archive.

Narratives

  • Narrative A, as provided by Associated Press. The anger of the people is understandable. Many lost homes, businesses, as well as the lives of loved ones. The government is listening and is doing all it can to help ease people's suffering.
  • Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by POLITICO. What did these leaders expect when they visited Paiporta? These floods have totally devastated the region and the government response has been completely inadequate.

Predictions