Spanish politicians clash as Teresa Ribera addresses parliament over Valencia flood response

The centre-right Spanish People's Party has sought to blame Ribera for poor emergency management, who in turn blamed Regional President Carlos Mazón.

Transcript

00:00Spanish politicians clashed as they traded blame for the disastrous consequences of the

00:05flash floods that struck Valencia.

00:08The center-right People's Party blamed the Minister for Ecological Transition, Teresa

00:12Ribera, for not completing emergency works on the Pollo Ravine, one of the worst-hit

00:17areas.

00:18But she quickly responded that they themselves were responsible for canceling the works when

00:23they were in government.

00:25Mrs. Ribera, you have been incompetent, intransigent, and tremendously selfish.

00:31If you hadn't canceled the Pollo Ravine drainage project in 2021, many lives would have been

00:37saved.

00:38Do you know how close we have been to resolving the works of the Pollo Ravine?

00:45When Teresa Ribera, as Secretary of State, signed the only favorable environmental impact

00:49plan in December 2011, you let it fall.

00:56Spanish law dictates that regional authorities are responsible for emergency management.

01:01But the center-right opposition has blamed Ribera, shifting attention away from center-right

01:06regional president Carlos Mazón.

01:09The issue has also posed risks to Ribera's nomination as vice president of the European

01:14Commission for a clean, fair and competitive transition.