Nuria Montes has been the first person to be removed within the framework of the changes announced by the president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, to face the reconstruction due to the passage of the DANA. After being part of the regional executive for more than a year and a half, Montes – who until now served as Minister of Innovation, Industry, Commerce and Tourism – has left the Consell through the back door after her image was damaged by some controversial statements about those who died due to the cold drop.
Montes, born on October 29, 1969 in Madrid, has developed a large part of her professional career in Alicante, where she studied a degree in Law. In 1995 he specialized in HR direction and management by the Business Confederation of the Province of Alicante and for almost 30 years She is general secretary of the Hotel and Tourism Business Association of the Valencian Community (Hosbec). In addition, she has been a member of the CEOE and the Valencian Business Confederation (CEV) and director of the Product Area of the Valencian Tourism Agency.
After winning the regional elections on May 28, Carlos Mazón appointed her Minister of Innovation, Industry, Commerce and Tourism. During his administration – which has been marked by the reactivation of the tourism sector – he took some measures such as repeal of the tourist tax. It also launched the Sitval platform, created with the purpose of streamlining the management of prior appointments to pass the ITV. Montes arrived in Mazón’s cabinet as independentbut he had already worked with the current president of the Generalitat when he was in charge of the Alicante Provincial Council.
With the arrival of the storm that has left at least 227 dead on the Peninsula –219 of them in the Valencian Community-, Montes was entrusted with the task of managing the Valencia Fair pavilion intended to house the bodies of the fatal victims. Three days after the catastrophe, his image was damaged when he assured that the relatives of the deceased They could not access the morguewords that deeply resonated with Valencians.
“Bodies will not be handed over to families. Relatives will not be allowed access to the area where we have guarded all the deceased, so they will have to wait, necessarily, for the call from the court and the delivery of the pertinent documentation. The best place where families can wait for the news “it’s at home,” said the then regional councilor of the Generalitat Valenciana on November 1.
Montes’ harsh words in those moments of despair – when the death toll increased significantly and the anguish of the relatives intensified – outraged the entire society. Hours later, the councilor realized what she had said and apologized in a video released by the regional executive. “I’m sorry my words were lacking in empathy.of that sensitivity that we all seek in these hard moments. Sorry everyone.”
The lack of empathy on the part of the counselor was also noticeable among her employees. In statements to Telecincothe official Toñi García – who worked directly with Montes and who lost her husband and daughter due to DANA – complained that the counselor called her a week later to offer her condolences. “We work in the same plant and he never deigned to call me,” she said through tears. In that conversation, García told her that she had had to walk back from the funeral home and Montes’ response left her cold: “Woman, having told me before, I could have sent you an official car“.
In the midst of the controversy unleashed by Montes’ words about the bodies of those killed by DANA, some statements by the counselor have gone viral on social networks that have also affected her image. In a forum organized by the newspaper Information In March, Montes even said that “if climate change brings anything good It is precisely the extension of the tourist season.” In addition, he indicated that “the good weather seen in 2023 and 2024 practically dominates during all months of the year.”
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