Spain's Flood Recovery Efforts: A Comprehensive Aid Package
In response to the devastating floods that struck south-east Spain at the end of October, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced a third aid package amounting to nearly 2.3 billion euros. This package, which is set to be approved by the Council of Ministers, includes 60 measures aimed at expediting the recovery and normalization of affected areas. With this latest announcement, the total aid allocated to the disaster-stricken regions has reached an impressive 16.6 billion euros.
The aid is designed to support a wide range of victims, including small and medium-sized businesses, the self-employed, and households impacted by the floods. Notably, farmers are set to receive an additional 200 million euros in aid. Sánchez emphasized that these measures are comparable to the government's economic interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the urgency and scale of the recovery efforts.
Calls for Accountability and New Flooding Challenges
During his address to parliament, Sánchez expressed his willingness to establish a parliamentary commission of inquiry to investigate the government's response to the floods, following public criticism and mass demonstrations in cities like Valencia. Protesters, numbering around 130,000, have called for the resignation of regional leaders and criticized the central government's management of the crisis.
Sánchez defended the actions taken by his government, asserting that they have assumed their responsibilities from the outset. He urged the public not to misplace blame on public services, which he claimed have fulfilled their duties effectively. However, the situation remains precarious as new floods have recently affected parts of Andalusia, particularly in the region of Huelva, where heavy rainfall has caused additional damage and disruption.
