Valencia Court Dismisses Appeal to Investigate President Mazón Over Storm Response
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The Provincial Court of Valencia has definitively rejected an attempt to escalate a criminal case concerning the handling of severe storms – known as “dana” – to the Valencian Superior Court of Justice (TSJ), effectively shielding President Carlos Mazón from inquiry. The ruling, delivered this Wednesday, upholds a previous decision made in May by an investigative judge in Catarroja, Valencia.
The core of the dispute centers on allegations that President Mazón failed to request a national emergency declaration from the central government following the devastating storms of 29-O. A private accusation had sought to bring the case before the TSJ, but the court found the arguments presented insufficient to warrant a higher-level investigation.
Initial Ruling Upheld
The six magistrates comprising the Second Section of the Provincial Court confirmed the earlier decision, stating that the investigative judge’s reasoning was “reasonable.” According to the court, the appellants did not “adequately” demonstrate that the necessary conditions for referral to the TSJ, as outlined in a December order, had been met. This December order had already dismissed initial complaints against President Mazón regarding his administration’s response to the storms.
“The appeal at this point does not include an adequate justification of the concurrence of the presuppositions of art. 11 of the Organic law of the Judiciary,” the court stated in its order. The TSJCV had previously steadfast that there was no “solid and well-founded evidence of criminality” to justify assuming jurisdiction over the case, a standard set by Supreme Court jurisprudence.
Accusations Against Government Delegate Also Rejected
The court also reaffirmed its previous rejection of charges against Pilar Bernabé,the Government delegate in the Valencian community. The Second Section found that the appeal lacked “new allegations” to justify revisiting a decision already made on the matter.
Furthermore, a separate appeal requesting that the investigative judge summon witnesses – including the former Secretary of State for Security and the Secretary of the State of Transport and Sustainable Mobility – was also dismissed. This second order,issued and notified on Wednesday,indicates the court’s firm stance against further broadening the scope of the investigation.
Implications for Future Legal Challenges
The repeated rejections signal a significant hurdle for those seeking to hold officials accountable for the storm response. The court’s emphasis on the need for “solid and well-founded evidence of criminality” sets a high bar for future legal challenges. The ruling underscores the complexities of pursuing criminal
Hear’s a substantive news report answering the “Why, Who, What, and How” questions:
What: The provincial Court of Valencia dismissed an appeal seeking to escalate a criminal investigation into President Carlos Mazón’s handling of the “dana” storms (severe weather event) to the Valencian Superior Court of Justice (TSJ). The appeal also sought to compel the investigative judge to summon key witnesses.
who: President Carlos Mazón of the Valencian Community and Government Delegate Pilar Bernabé were the targets of the initial accusations. A private accuser initiated the legal challenge. The six magistrates of the Second Section of the Provincial Court of Valencia made the ruling.
Why: The private accuser alleged that President Mazón failed to request a national emergency declaration from the central government following the devastating storms of September 29th (29-O). The court
