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This Monday, a court opened an investigation into the incidents on Sunday in the Valencian town of Paiporta, during the visit of the King of Spain, Felipe VI, to one of the areas most affected by floods in the country.
The investigation was opened following a report from the Civil Guard, as reported this Monday by the Court of Justice of the Valencian Community in a statement.
The Minister of Interior Administration, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, had already stated this Monday morning that the Civil Guard was investigating what happened on Sunday in Paiporta.
The Civil Guard is a security body that, in Spain, also has judicial investigation powers.
The investigation now opened by the court investigates the possibility of three crimes: attack, public disorder and damageaccording to judicial sources cited by various media outlets.
This Sunday, the King visited one of the places most affected by the floods on Tuesday last week in eastern Spain and heard insults from the population, who threw mud at Felipe VI and the entourage that accompanied him, in a situation considered unprecedented. or, at least, something very rare in the last 40 years, since democracy and monarchy were reestablished in Spain.
Felipe VI went to Paiporta accompanied by Queen Letizia, the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez (Socialist), and the President of the Regional Government of the Valencian Community, Carlos Mazón (Popular Party).
Everyone was the target of insults, mud and other objects, with a group of people shouting words like “murderers.” and complaining about the lack of support and assistance from the authorities in the face of the impact of the floods.
Sánchez and Mazón left the place, where they were removed by security guards, while Felipe VI and Letizia continued their visit through the streets of Paiporta, spoke with the population and hugged several people, even after the insults and having been beaten by the mud
The Spanish Government has stated, through various sources, that the protest was organized on social networks by groups linked to the extreme right.
Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska stated this Monday that the insults and throwing of mud and other objects came from a “violent minority” and said he hoped that all of these people would be quickly identified by the Civil Guard.
Grande-Marlaska avoided mentioning or confirming the link with the extreme right and limited himself to stating that there was a “minimum of organization” among the protagonists of the incidents.
After the incidents, Felipe VI said that we must understand “the anger and frustration” expressed by the inhabitants of Paiporta.
The King said that a “monumental disaster” that affected many lives.
“We must give hope to these people, respond to the emergency, but also make the State present in all its fullness,” highlighted the monarch, who also expressed his belief that the situation is improving day by day.
Also Pedro Sánchez said he understood “the anguish and suffering” of the flood victims, but condemned the incidents.
“I want to express our solidarity and the recognition of the Spanish Government for the anguish and suffering” of those affected, said Pedro Sánchez, who then repudiated “any type of violence” and considered that the incidents were caused by “some absolutely marginal ones.” items”.
The protests and violence against the monarchs and the prime minister were condemned by most political parties, including the largest opposition force, the Popular Party.
Eastern Spain, especially the Valencia region, was hit on Tuesday by a storm that likely caused the biggest flooding in Europe this century, Sánchez said on Saturday, acknowledging there was a “tragic situation” and an insufficient response from authorities. authorities until then.
So far there are 217 confirmed deaths and dozens of families continue the search for missing people, according to authorities.
Source: Observadora
