Spain's King and Queen, Top Officials, Pelted With Mud Over Flood Response

Spain's King and Queen, Top Officials, Pelted With Mud and Insults Over Flood Response

story

Nov 04, 2024

Above: King Felipe VI during his visit to an area affected by the DANA, on November 3, 2024, in Paiporta, Valencia, Valencian Community, Spain. Image copyright: Rober Solsona/Europa Press/Contributor via Getty Imagesstory last updated Nov 04, 2024

The Facts

Public tension rose this weekend after Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, alongside Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Valencia's regional governor Carlos Mazón, visited one of the worst-hit regions in the country's recent flooding that killed over 205 people.Public tension rose this weekend after Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia, alongside Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and Valencia's regional governor Carlos Mazón, visited one of the worst-hit regions in the country's recent flooding that has killed over 200 people.
Crowds in the town of Paiporta — where over 60 died from the floods — shouted "Killers!" and "Get out!" as the leaders carried out their visit. Others hurled clots of mud and other objects, including rocks, with two bodyguards reportedly injured.
Sánchez and Mazón were forced to seek protection and were quickly whisked away by their security details. Meanwhile, the king and queen insisted on staying and could be seen engaging with and embracing several residents.Sánchez and Mazón were forced to seek protection and were quickly whisked away by their security details. Meanwhile, the king and queen insisted on staying and could be seen engaging with a number of residents.

The Spin

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Associated Press

Make no mistake, the public's anger was directed at both the Prime Minister and the royal couple. This visit came a full four days after Valencia was destroyed by the floods, and while villages were still waiting for authorities to show up and help, they saw a team of officers appear solely for the protection of the monarch and politicians.

Politico