Spain’s main right-wing opposition party maintained its control of the flood-ravaged Valencia region on Thursday, as its candidate was elected regional president with the backing of the far-right Vox party – a vote triggered by the resignation of his embattled predecessor.
Carlos Mazón, who led the People’s Party (PP) in the eastern region, became the focus of widespread public anger after catastrophic floods in October 2024 left more than 200 people dead — the worst such tragedy in Spain in decades.
Facing relentless pressure over his conduct and whereabouts during the crisis, Mazón finally stepped down on 3 November. Management of such emergencies largely falls to regional authorities under Spain’s decentralised system, intensifying scrutiny of his actions. ALSO READ: Valencia’s ex-leader grilled over deadly floods, claims missed calls were due to phone ‘in his backpack’.
In his place, Valencia’s regional assembly chose PP nominee Juan Francisco Pérez Llorca (main image), a close associate of Mazón, granting him an outright majority with votes from the far-right Vox party.
Mazón had faced persistent questions about his schedule on the day of the disaster, including reports that he spent several hours at lunch with a journalist. ALSO READ: Carlos Mazón, leader of flood-hit Valencia, finally resigns.
Critics argue that his absence contributed to delays in issuing a mass telephone alert – a warning that reached residents only after floodwaters were already sweeping through towns and claiming lives.
During the investiture debate, Pérez Llorca declared that his first words as regional president would be ‘to ask the relatives of the 229 dead victims for forgiveness’.
Bereaved families, who had staged repeated protests demanding accountability and Mazón’s departure, are now calling for him to face prosecution. ALSO READ: Families of Spain’s flood victims express grief and anger at one-year memorial.
For the moment, Mazón will remain in the regional parliament, a position that grants him immunity from the ongoing criminal investigation into how the disaster was handled.
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🤝Assumisc el repte de liderar la nostra terra sent conscient de la responsabilitat que això suposa, així com amb la voluntat de no deixar a ningú arrere.
— Juanfran Pérez Llorca (@JuanFranFines) November 27, 2025
Governaré per a tots, voten a qui voten, i lluitaré perquè els valencians reben el tracte que mereixen.
⏩Junts Avancem pic.twitter.com/PZl6UUN7XQ
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