Chanting “murderers”, thousands of people marched through the streets of Valencia today to denounce the government’s chaotic handling of floods that killed at least 220 people last week in southeastern Spain.

Protesters gathered in the late afternoon in front of Valencia’s town hall before marching to the district headquarters, an AFP reporter found.

Watch video from today’s protest:

Much of the anger has been aimed at Valencia regional president Carlos Mathon (right-wing Popular Party, PP), but Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is also being heavily criticized in the ranks of the protesters.

“Resign” shouted thousands of demonstrators today in front of the Valencia City Hall. Saturday, November 9, 2024. AP Photo

The regional governor and the prime minister are accused of underestimating the risks and of poor coordination of rescue operations after the October 29 floods.

Ana de la Rosa, 30, laments “the political wars when it was not the time for them because the citizens needed help and it was not given to them.” He is calling for “justice” for what he calls “manslaughter.”

For Julián García, 73 years old, “Mathon’s management was undignified and he must resign.” “The Valencian government is responsible and did not want to ask what it could ask from the central government, which is also a little responsible,” the pensioner estimates.

Trini Orduña, who comes from Valencia, demonstrated against “the shameful political order”. “We are the laughing stock of the whole world,” he declared.

At the head of the march was a large banner reading “Student Quit”.

Hundreds of people also gathered in Madrid chanting mainly “Learn to resign” and “people united never defeated”, an AFP reporter found.