Sánchez defends flood response and announces 2.27 billion aid package

During an appearance in Congress, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced a third aid package for those affected by storm DANA, particularly the Valencian Community, on October 29, which claimed over 220 lives.

The third aid package is in addition to two approved on 5 and 11 November, and brings the total state aid for those affected by the hurricane to more than €16.6 billion.”The government is going to approve a third aid package with 60 measures designed to speed up the return to normality and the recovery of the areas hit by this tragedy,” Sánchez announced.

Pedro Sánchez maintained that the government “fulfilled” its responsibilities. The leader of the Government recalled the warnings issued by state meteorological bodies, the Aemet and the Júcar River Basin Authority.

The new aid package will include tax moratoriums and exemptions, as well as social security measures among others reaching a total value of 2.274 billion euros.

Sánchez defends state management in the face of PP criticism

“I do not believe that the system has failed (…) it is the same system that has allowed us to respond effectively to previous catastrophes,” he said, adding: “Some people have failed who have not lived up to their responsibilities,“ referring to the regional government of Valencia, led by Carlos Mazón of the opposition Popular Paty.

Sánchez also said he is not against establishing a parliamentary commission of enquiry to clarify everything that happened, and said that a detailed report will be published. However, the leader of the Popular Party, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, accused Sánchez of remaining “with his arms crossed” and criticised the fact that no national state emergency was declared. He also criticised the government for its “lack of humility” in the face of the management of the DANA, to which it “did not react until 11 at night.”

For his part, Santiago Abascal, leader of Vox, criticised the government’s management of the region: “They were left alone, flooded, without electricity, without water, they woke up in fear, thinking that someone was going to arrive to help, but no one arrived, no one went there.” On the other hand, the spokesperson for the Plurinational Group of Sumar, Verónica Martínez Barbero,** criticised Vox and the Popular Party for spreading “hoaxes” on social networks.