Good morning! Here’s your news roundup for Monday, 12 May:
Festival of Mare de Déu
Thousands turned out for the procession of Valencia’s patron saint, showered in flower petals. The celebration brought comfort to many still recovering from the October floods.
Las Provincias – Mare de Déu, the only certainty for a people tired of crying
Generalitat President Carlos Mazón attended the festivities, though he was briefly heckled over his flood response.
Las Provincias – A quiet mass for Mazón
Politics in Valencia
Talk of a political comeback by former Generalitat President Francisco Camps has stirred debate within the Partido Popular. Mazón’s leadership is under pressure amid ongoing criticism of his flood management.
El Español – Camps threatens a return to politics
Meanwhile, internal unrest is growing in the far-right Vox party. A string of resignations in the Valencia region has raised doubts about the party’s local leadership and its alliance with the PP.
El Español – Whats going on with Vox?
Flood Recovery
Researchers are revisiting the 1957 flood response to draw lessons for today’s disaster preparedness. In 1957, flood alerts were issued five hours in advance — far more than during last October’s DANA.
À Punt – Lessons of the 1957 flood
Transport
More disruptions on Spain’s high-speed rail network: technical failures on the AVE line between Madrid and Seville caused major delays, following last week’s cable theft that stranded thousands.
El País – A new incident causes major AVE delays
Changing City
Police and social workers have begun clearing homeless encampments in the Turia gardens, where more than 100 tents had appeared. Authorities say the goal is to relocate people to shelters.
Levante – València removes camps in Turia
The historic Telefónica building in Plaza del Ayuntamiento has reopened as a luxury Marriott hotel after years of refurbishment.
Las Provincias –The luxury hotel in the center of Valencia
Meanwhile, the Alquería de Falcó in Torrefiel remains illegally occupied. Locals are urging the city to begin restoration work before the damage becomes irreversible.
Valencia Extra – The illegal occupation of Alquería de Falcó
Justice and Crime
A judge has rejected an appeal to investigate the manufacturer of the Campanar building facade that caught fire last year, killing 10 people.
El País – Judge rejects Campanar investigation
Climate and Energy
Valencia is weighing the use of nuclear energy as a stable alternative amid frustrations over the slow rollout of renewables, especially after the recent blackout.
Valencia Plaza – Nuclear energy gains ground