If there is a sign that something is not right, it is silence. In the case of the Valencian Government, the Minister of Justice and Interior, Salomé Pradas, responsible for Emergencies, is especially illuminating. Hers and the one that looms over her. There is no position in the Valencian Executive that defends her in public, and in private, the criticism is devastating. She is held responsible for the ineffectiveness of the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi), the body she presides, for not making decisions in time, for separating her team due to mistrust and for not taking charge of a critical situation.
Since Tuesday, October 29, when DANA broke into the Valencian regions, the minister has barely made any statements. “She is focused on emergency measures,” comments her team, asked about her political future. That the person in charge of Emergencies cannot continue in office is an outcry, but in recent days, the leaders of the Valencian PP have begun to show her the exit door.
The president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, in the focus on the management of DANA, has announced this Monday a remodeling of the Consell. After the massive demonstration in which his resignation and that of the entire Executive were called for, the Valencian leader has hinted at a crisis or restructuring starting on Thursday, when he will appear in the Valencian Courts to explain the key hours of the Emergency. “We are working to adapt the entire structure of the Consell to the reconstruction work,” he said during a visit to the emergency center.
The president has refused to talk about dismissals or resignations before the parliamentary meeting, but his Executive has already renounced the defense of the Emergency Minister. Asked about the actions of the Generalitat and the sending of notices, delayed for more than two hours due to the minister’s doubts and his own absence, he said: “We must assume that errors may have been made, without a doubt, we must do it with all humility.”
Shortly after, the vice president of the Consell and ex-officio spokesperson for post-emergency actions, Susana Camarero, avoided defending Councilor Pradas. Asked if she believes she is qualified to continue leading the Emergencies, she said: “All the councilors are at the disposal of the president and he will make the decision he deems appropriate,” adding that “Thursday’s appearance will be the starting point.” from that political part. [El president] “It is preparing an adaptation of part of the Consell to this reality.”
Executive sources point to a restructuring of powers to adapt to post-crisis management, which will require a new budget, and take the departure of Pradas for granted. The entry of new senior officials with more technical experience to face the reconstruction of the regions is also valued. The head of the councilor in charge of a clearly insufficient management would serve as a shield for the Valencian president to avoid assuming the political responsibilities demanded of him by the citizens and the opposition. It would also be a way to reduce the pressure exerted on him by other popular barons and senior leaders of his party. Removing the head of Emergencies would divert attention from the president’s own actions on the day of the catastrophe, who has lied on several occasions, and was, according to the latest version, maneuvering for control of Valencian public television.
Pradas is responsible for Cecopi, although the law gives Mazón sole command in catastrophes like these, and according to those present at the meeting, his authorization was awaited to decree the measures. The same sources point out that the counselor constantly consulted with the president about the decisions to be made, and in the Presidency they assured that Mazón was periodically informed of the situation, something that clashes with the fact that, upon arriving late for the meeting, the issues discussed had to be explained to him.
The defense of the management has been carried out by the vice president of the Consell and head of Housing, who has assumed the de facto spokesperson for the crisis. Nothing is known about the formal spokesperson, Ruth Merino, although the Minister of Finance also has ahead of her the recomposition of the entire regional budget, which was to be presented two days after the disaster, and now must be adapted to the recovery of families. shops, infrastructure or commercial areas. Camarero explained on Monday that she appears in place of the spokesperson because “I am the vice president of the Consell, the secretary [del Ejecutivo]who has the information of all the departments and I am part of Cecopi and I have the updated information.”
After Pradas, it is likely that his entire team would fall, with the regional Secretary of Emergencies, Emilio Argüeso, at the helm. If they don’t all go with her, they will probably be relocated. To date, he has not spoken about his management. His entire team remains silent and communication is centralized by the Presidency, which ignores them in the press releases. The rupture is such that it was the person in charge of Emergencies himself who published on Away from the political management of the catastrophe, it is not surprising that they count the hours they have left in the Consell.
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