Week in News: Rail Safety, Strikes and Immigration
Bon dia! Aemet is forecasting rain and strong winds this week. There are also train driver and doctors’ strikes expected in the weeks ahead — both likely to affect daily life across the region.
Infrastructure Concerns
Rail safety after the Adamuz disaster
The Adamuz train derailment continues to reverberate. A train drivers’ strike is planned for 9–11 February, according to Agent Travel. Passengers should expect delays and cancellations.
The political fallout
Valencia Plaza reports on the political divide emerging over compensation payments to victims of the Ademuz derailment versus those affected by the DANA floods. Rail disaster victims are reportedly receiving nearly €50,000 more than flood victims, raising difficult questions about equity and responsibility.
Over the weekend, protesters again demanded that regional president Carlos Mazón be stripped of parliamentary immunity and criminally prosecuted. Demonstrations shifted to L’Horta Sud, El País reports.
Airport security scare
Flights at Manises airport were delayed after a man climbed onto the roof of a plane carrying a bag, triggering security alarms. He was later escorted away without injuries, according to Las Provincias.
Migration & Growth
Regularisation — and its limits
Spain has moved toward an amnesty-style regularisation of undocumented migrants, sharply contrasting with crackdowns elsewhere in Europe and the United States, reports El País. National estimates suggest around 840,000 people live in Spain without legal status.
Despite post-DANA regularisation efforts, the Valencian Community still leads Spain in undocumented residents, according to Levante-EMV. The government is now considering an extraordinary regularisation by decree, reopening debate over whether amnesty measures can succeed without deeper structural reform.
Migration as a growth engine
At the same time, immigration has become the leading driver of population growth in Valencia. Venezuelans, Colombians, Moroccans and Russians are among the fastest-growing groups, reports Valencia Plaza.
City News
Housing pressure and development
The Generalitat is moving to streamline development by loosening land-use rules, writes El País. Critics warn the strategy may prioritise urbanisation over affordability.
Meanwhile, the legacy of the DANA floods is reshaping urban planning decisions, particularly on the metropolitan edge, with proposals for floodable parks and taller housing, reports El País.
Doctors’ strike planned
Doctors are planning a strike over working conditions from 16–20 February. Levante-EMV details which hospitals in the region are most overcrowded and under strain.
Economy, Agriculture & Trade
Farmers vs Mercosur
Farmers took to the streets with tractors last week to protest the Mercosur trade agreement, which they say threatens livelihoods and food safety, reports Valencia Plaza. In response, the Generalitat has announced a €2 million campaign to promote Valencian citrus, also reported by Valencia Plaza.
EU–India deal: uneven impacts
Beyond Mercosur, the EU has also struck a trade deal with India. While wine, chemical, and machinery firms in Valencia see new opportunities, writes Valencia Plaza, Castellón’s ceramics sector fears being left exposed, according to a separate report by Valencia Plaza.
Crime & Policing
Cathedral murder trial
A verdict is expected Monday in the trial over the killing of a clergyman near Valencia’s cathedral. Las Provincias outlines the evidence, pointing to a pattern of exploitation of vulnerable migrants and young men, with phone data playing a central role in the case.
Sueca murder investigation
Residents in Sueca gathered to mourn the murder of a 13-year-old boy, a crime that has shocked the community. The suspect — the father of a friend — turned himself in to police, though the motive remains unclear, reports ABC.
Culture News
Farewell to Fernando Esteso
The death of actor Fernando Esteso in Valencia prompted reflections on his enduring popularity during Spain’s transition away from Franco-era censorship, writes Las Provincias.
SailGP comes to Valencia
Valencia will replace Cádiz as Spain’s SailGP host city, a notable boost to the international events calendar, reports El País.
