An advisor to the Generalitat Valenciana testified that Carlos Mazón did not declare a state of emergency until late in the evening during a significant flood incident.
In a recent court hearing in Catarroja, Valencia, Josep Lanuza, an advisor to former Generalitat Valenciana president Carlos Mazón, testified that Mazón did not mention a state of emergency until 19:45 on October 29, 2024, during a serious flooding event. Lanuza's account indicates that Mazón spent about 25 minutes at the Palau de la Generalitat before heading to the emergency coordination center, contradicting statements made by the former president's bodyguards, who claimed otherwise regarding the timing of his emergency declaration.
This testimony is particularly significant as it contrasts sharply with the official narrative surrounding the government's response to the flood, which raised questions about preparedness and response time during a critical situation. The variance in accounts highlights the complexities of crisis management and the importance of accurate information dissemination during emergencies. Such discrepancies could have serious implications for the accountability of public officials in their disaster response conduct.
The testimony also raises concerns regarding transparency and governance within the Valencian government as they navigate the aftereffects of the flooding. The growing scrutiny on Mazón's actions during the emergency is prompting calls for a thorough review of how disaster responses are managed in the future, potentially leading to systemic changes in procedures and accountability in crisis situations.
