Congress Investigation Committee Calls Important Witnesses in Response to Recent Flooding
The PSOE and Vox have summoned key individuals for testimony related to the disaster in the Valencia region.
The investigation committee in the Congress of Deputies focusing on the recent flooding disaster in the Valencia region has summoned Alfredo Romero, the owner of the restaurant El Ventorro, and journalist Iker Jiménez, among others.
Romero has been called by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) due to a controversial meeting he hosted on the day of the tragedy, where President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, dined with journalist Maribel Vilaplana.
This meeting has generated significant scrutiny, particularly regarding the decision-making and actions of Mazón in the critical hours leading up to the flooding that devastated multiple localities.
Vox, a right-wing political party, has included journalist Jiménez, known for his focus on mystery journalism and current affairs, in its list of requested witnesses.
Additionally, Vox seeks to hear from President Pedro Sánchez, President Mazón, and various high-ranking officials from the Generalitat Valenciana and the central government, as well as experts in emergency management and meteorology.
The Vox list includes notable figures such as former Justice and Interior Councillor Salomé Pradas, Emilio Argüeso, the regional Secretary of Security and Emergencies, as well as mayors from towns affected by the flooding, including Aldaia, Catarroja, Paiporta, Utiel, and Sedaví.
They are also calling for representatives from victim associations to provide testimony.
In their request, Vox has demanded the testimonies of civil engineers, architects, and geologists, some of whom were involved in a parallel Senate commission addressing similar issues.
Additionally, they have called for the former third vice president and Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande Marlaska, General Francisco Javier Marcos from the Military Emergency Unit, José Ángel Núñez, head of Climatology in Valencia's Aemet, and Miguel Polo, President of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation.
On the other hand, the PSOE has prepared a substantial list comprising over 80 potential witnesses, which includes not only political figures such as Mazón and opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo but also prominent members of the Valencian Executive.
Notable mentions include Francisco Gan Pampols, the second vice president responsible for reconstruction, and the previously mentioned Salomé Pradas, who resigned following the flooding disaster.
They are also advocating for victim testimony, having included 13 individuals directly affected by the flood on their list.
Moreover, the PSOE has requested access to communication records between Mazón and Feijóo in the days preceding the disaster, alongside details regarding the use of Mazón's official vehicle, the locations of his official and personal mobile phones, and the expenses related to the aforementioned lunch at El Ventorro.
The investigation also calls for access to CCTV footage at the headquarters of the Integrated Operational Coordination Centre (Cecopi) and the minutes from its meetings.
The ongoing investigation aims to clarify the events surrounding the flooding of October 29, which resulted in widespread devastation and loss of life in the region.
Romero has been called by the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE) due to a controversial meeting he hosted on the day of the tragedy, where President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón, dined with journalist Maribel Vilaplana.
This meeting has generated significant scrutiny, particularly regarding the decision-making and actions of Mazón in the critical hours leading up to the flooding that devastated multiple localities.
Vox, a right-wing political party, has included journalist Jiménez, known for his focus on mystery journalism and current affairs, in its list of requested witnesses.
Additionally, Vox seeks to hear from President Pedro Sánchez, President Mazón, and various high-ranking officials from the Generalitat Valenciana and the central government, as well as experts in emergency management and meteorology.
The Vox list includes notable figures such as former Justice and Interior Councillor Salomé Pradas, Emilio Argüeso, the regional Secretary of Security and Emergencies, as well as mayors from towns affected by the flooding, including Aldaia, Catarroja, Paiporta, Utiel, and Sedaví.
They are also calling for representatives from victim associations to provide testimony.
In their request, Vox has demanded the testimonies of civil engineers, architects, and geologists, some of whom were involved in a parallel Senate commission addressing similar issues.
Additionally, they have called for the former third vice president and Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa Ribera, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande Marlaska, General Francisco Javier Marcos from the Military Emergency Unit, José Ángel Núñez, head of Climatology in Valencia's Aemet, and Miguel Polo, President of the Júcar Hydrographic Confederation.
On the other hand, the PSOE has prepared a substantial list comprising over 80 potential witnesses, which includes not only political figures such as Mazón and opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo but also prominent members of the Valencian Executive.
Notable mentions include Francisco Gan Pampols, the second vice president responsible for reconstruction, and the previously mentioned Salomé Pradas, who resigned following the flooding disaster.
They are also advocating for victim testimony, having included 13 individuals directly affected by the flood on their list.
Moreover, the PSOE has requested access to communication records between Mazón and Feijóo in the days preceding the disaster, alongside details regarding the use of Mazón's official vehicle, the locations of his official and personal mobile phones, and the expenses related to the aforementioned lunch at El Ventorro.
The investigation also calls for access to CCTV footage at the headquarters of the Integrated Operational Coordination Centre (Cecopi) and the minutes from its meetings.
The ongoing investigation aims to clarify the events surrounding the flooding of October 29, which resulted in widespread devastation and loss of life in the region.
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