Faces of sadness, even contorted and teary eyes. A lot of silence and respect inside the cathedral of Valencia where political authorities – Central Government, Valencian Government, regional presidents, and mayors from the affected areas – shared space with about 400 relatives of the cold drop victims. A brief truce after weeks of bitter political battle in which both sides have launched serious accusations about the responsibilities in managing the brutal flood that has left 222 dead and four missing. A tsunami of mud and mud that is still present in many towns and has further muddied Valencian politics with calls for the resignation of the President of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, who on Monday shared space with those who demand almost every day that he take a step aside.
The Kings Felipe and Letizia at their entrance to the Cathedral of Valencia
The King and Queen preside over the mass organized by the Archdiocese amidst high security measures
Inside the cathedral, at the funeral mass organized by the Archdiocese of Valencia and presided over by the King and Queen, were the First Vice President of the Government of Spain, María Jesús Montero, and the ministers Ángel Víctor Torres and Diana Morant, along with the President of Valencia, Carlos Mazón, and his entire Consell; the leader of the People's Party, Alberto Nuñez Feijóo; as well as the regional presidents of Andalusia, Aragon, Madrid, and Murcia. The announced arrival of the People's Party was countered at the last minute by the Government, although Pedro Sánchez was not present.
The President of the Valencian Community, Carlos Mazón (left), greets the Mayor of Paiporta, Maribel Albalat (right), moments before the funeral for the victims of the cold drop
The atmosphere outside was somewhat different. Kings Felipe and Letizia were cheered upon their arrival at the cathedral. Only they entered through the same door that the invited family members had. There, their majesties received applause from onlookers crowded behind security barriers in an area with high security measures. The “Long live the King” chants were quickly accompanied by shouts against politicians. “Politicians murderers” could be heard, but the authorities must not have heard them because the organizers devised a separate entrance for the authorities, far away from the public.
The Government counters the last-minute presence of the PP leaders, but Sánchez does not attend
In fact, this led to some tough moments, such as when one of the family members was denied entry by the authorities just as President Mazón and the leaders of Murcia, Fernando López Miras, and Aragón, Jorge Azcón, were getting out of the car. This relative showed his anger at having to go all the way around after losing three loved ones.
Another woman, like Sonia Fuster, who lost her father in the tragedy, entered the cathedral but preferred to leave due to the massive presence of so many politicians. “I don't care if they are from the left, the right, or the center. One because they didn't ask for help and the other because they didn't give it. One for the other and people drowning. I got up and left,” she pointed out.
Up to five people confront Carlos Mazón inside the Valencia Cathedral
At the same time, about twenty people protested at the entrance of the Puerta de los Hierros of the cathedral. Among them, a young woman, very emotional, carried a banner that read “it was not a climate disaster, it was a murder” and shouted for her deceased brother, whom she explained “nobody went to look for and his friends found in a ravine.”
A protester holds a sign against Mazón at the doors of the Valencia Cathedral
Some of the shouts from outside managed to penetrate into the cathedral during the mass. Inside, the tension was contained, although not everyone was able to bite their tongues. Up to five people confronted the Valencian president after the Eucharist. Lidia, from Benetússer, who lost her father-in-law in the cold drop, called him “coward” to his face. These scenes contrasted with the emotional moments of condolences offered to the families and the respectful greetings among politicians.
The families of those who lost their lives in the floods entered by invitation, issued by the Archbishopric of Valencia, which was sent through the parishes to the affected individuals. “I lost my mother in Alfafar, inside our home. And my brother and I almost died,” explained the daughter of one of the deceased, who was informed of the funeral mass when she went to the church to arrange a ceremony in memory of her deceased mother.
In addition to inviting families, the cathedral welcomed anyone who wanted to enter, lining up in advance in Queen's Square.
