The Spanish Royal Family and the October Flooding in Spain

Alison H said:

And now a red alert's been issued for parts of Catalunya. This is just awful.

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Yes torrential rain falling near Barcelona and unseasonably dry over the UK/Ireland
'Extreme danger' red alert for Barcelona warns of more rain on the way - with Spain still reeling from deadly floods

princess gertrude said:

So sad and frightening. I can understand the locals' frustration. We have seen as much here in the US with the hurricanes hitting the mountains of North Carolina and the devastation that it caused. I hope that the King and Queen are okay. Much respect for them staying even after such an experience. I don't think this was a publicity stunt on their part at all. I think the PM needed some "backup" on his trip.

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Certainly not, its his job to do so and to endure the emotions of the people (not the violence though) and he did that with dignity. Only the circumstances are debatable (what time to go and with whom).

Poll: 78% of Valencians and 76% of all Spaniards support King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visiting Paiporta (Valencia) despite the risk.

68% of Valencians and 64% of Spaniards disapprove of Pedro Sánchez leaving while the King and Queen continued to console the citizens.

Marengo said:

If they had arrived later the same people would probably be complaining about what took them so long to show support. The King and Queen did the right thing.

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I don't follow the Spanish Royals that much except to comment on fashion but I have never admired Felipe and Letizia more than this week. This is what being a true 21st century leader is. In action.

They were willing to stay and endure literal mud thrown at them than flee like the elected official.

An Ard Ri said:

They've shown more leadership compared to the current Spanish Prime Minister!
I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a change of government in Spain as the current one leaves a lot to desire!

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Let’s hope you’re correct. They were never very competent at anything not the sharpest tools in the toolbox but this time they’ve proven they are evil and criminals. My heart breaks for these poor people.

Whilst I admire F&L for stepping in and conducting themselves with so much dignity (even if I think their visit should have been done differently and whoever is advising them needs to be fired), I’m confused about Felipe’s role in this situation. The people are complaining about the lack of resources and that no one came to help them, even many days after the tragedy. Isn’t he the head of the army? Why isn’t he sending the army to help the people out, judging by the incompetence of the PM? He should have taken action and stepped in? His father stepped in when the coup of 1981 - it was the right thing to do to not summon Spain in yet another dictatorship and it made him hugely popular as a bonus. His behaviour in this has been really muted. Sometimes one needs to take his leadership role and be the leader the people need.

The rainfall and flooding in Barcelona yesterday

carlota said:

They were never very competent at anything not the sharpest tools in the toolbox but this time they’ve proven they are evil and criminals. My heart breaks for these poor people.
.

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What I cannot understand is why it took them all so long to act and mobilise a response to the disaster.
Thank God for the brave Spanish people who acted more quickly than their feckless Government.

carlota said:

I’m confused about Felipe’s role in this situation. Why isn’t he sending the army to help the people out, judging by the incompetence of the PM?

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Spain, like all European monarchies, is a parliamentary monarchy, and parliamentary monarchies have a symbolic role that is subject to the decision of the government.

The King has a symbolic role as Captain General of the Armed Forces, but not an executive power that corresponds to the Government and the Ministry of Defense. The King constitutionally can only command the Royal Guard (which is a group formed by army personnel) and he offered troops. For many, this announcement by the King contributed to the politicians reacting and mobilizing more personnel.

The 23rd of February was a different era, with a very recent democracy and an army that was the direct heir of Franco's and where the role of the Head of State was still very important. But the main reason why Juan Carlos could intervene was that the President and the members of the government were locked in Parliament and therefore could not make decisions.

On other comments... Spanish politics has been very messy in recent years, with politicians who think more about their image and political gain than governing for the citizens... and in the end that affects everything, especially when there are two administrations that have to come to an agreement and they are from opposing political parties. They have not coordinated well, but it is also true that the level of destruction is enormous and affects many towns, and first they have had to clear access roads and bridges destroyed so that the machines can arrive, and then the priority has been to look for the victims. There are currently thousands of soldiers, police and firefighters in the area deployed to help.

I don't think the press has done its job well in this catastrophe either. They are more concerned with the political confrontation and the personal drama of the victims, which are what attract viewers to television, and they are less concerned with providing a public service in the face of the tragedy and transmitting information that is useful to the population. The town that the King and Queen visited was the town that was most easily accessible on foot from the city of Valencia, where it was easier for citizens and the press to access and it had become a bit of a show of the tragedy... they showed a bit of a reality that was much broader. Probably that also influenced what happened.

It seems that what happened on Sunday has made many people react, politicians are beginning to focus more on management and the press is reporting on other places, other initiatives and helping to spread useful information to help the victims.

Thank you very much for the explanations and insights!

Thousands of Spanish soldiers are assisting in the recovery operation in the Valencia region.

Prior to the army mobilisation ,hundreds of ordinary Spanish citizens took it upon themselves to Volunteer in the recovery and cleanup.

King Felipe VI will meet this Wednesday at the Zarzuela Palace with representatives of various business, insurance and financial organisations as well as the main trade unions to inquire about the impact that the passage of the DANA has had on the business fabric in the most affected areas.

German BILD has an article on the far right travelling to the area to create chaos and attack the Royals.

lula said:

King Felipe VI will meet this Wednesday at the Zarzuela Palace with representatives of various business, insurance and financial organisations as well as the main trade unions to inquire about the impact that the passage of the DANA has had on the business fabric in the most affected areas.

El Rey recibirá mañana a organizaciones empresariales y sindicatos para interesarse por el impacto de la DANA

El Rey Felipe VI recibirá este miércoles en el Palacio de la Zarzuela a representantes de distintas...

www.europapress.es

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That looks like he is very much engaged and devoted to help and do something which is really necessary. Wouldn't that be something that Spanish politicians would have to do? Or do we don't get to know what they are doing?

Letizia cancels her event today at the Tudela Film Festival.
The decision to cancel the visit comes after the tense day in Paiporta (Valencia), where the king and queen, together with President Pedro Sánchez and theleader of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, travelled to show their solidarity with those affected by the recent floods.

And the political blame game begins in Spain
Spain floods: Accusations fly over who is to blame for disaster

A British couple Don Turner, 78, and his wife, Terry, 74 were confirmed dead and their bodies found in their car.

Duke of Marmalade said:

The Royals are absorbing the wrath that is directed to those responsible, the politicians, who dont have the guts to go there and accept the role of a punching ball. After the German desaster, the responsible minister for environment of the federal state went on her planned holiday, for 4 weeks. She had to resign later on but it shows the mindset of those who should face being responsible and be there for those affected.

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I'm sorry , but she carried on with her holiday plan's , after the disaster !!!!! She should have been prosecuted for dereliction of duty , not simply allowed to resign . I sincerely hope she no longer holds any public office .

Queen Letizia will meet this Thursday with six social organisations that are working to help and support the thousands of people affected by the DANA that has hit the east and south of Spain, according to Zarzuela.

The working meeting will take place at 10.30 am at the Zarzuela Palace and will be attended by representatives of the Red Cross, AECC, FEDER, ONCE, Mental Health and CERMI, all organisations that provide assistance to different sectors of society that have been affected by the floods.


Audience of the King with the CEOE, the Business Confederation of the Valencian Community (CEV), the Regional Confederation of Businessmen of Castilla-La Mancha (CECAM), CEPYME, ATA, UNESPA and the AEB, within a series of meetings scheduled after the floods caused by the DANA.


Her Majesty Queen Sofia visits the exhibition of the painting "Still Life" in New York, which the master Fernando Botero donated to the Queen Sofia Foundation to support the work of the Food Banks. The painting is scheduled to be auctioned in New York on November 21 and the proceeds will go to the Food Banks. Now this aid will focus on those located in provinces affected by the DANA.


The Princess of Girona Foundation is collaborating with the Red Cross by supporting and disseminating the humanitarian emergency campaign that it has launched in response to the impact of the DANA.

Here are a few videos from this mornings meetings with the Valencian community

Photos
PPE Agency

Duke of Marmalade said:

Tudela se queda sin la visita de la reina Letizia

La reina cancela su asistencia a la última jornada del Festival de Cine Ópera Prima de Tudela, donde iba a rendirse homenaje al cineasta Mario Camus

www.tudelahoy.com

Letizia cancels her event today at the Tudela Film Festival.
The decision to cancel the visit comes after the tense day in Paiporta (Valencia), where the king and queen, together with President Pedro Sánchez and theleader of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, travelled to show their solidarity with those affected by the recent floods.

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Smart decision! There were already people hurling messages at Letizia and Felipe "go back to your palace, what have you lost?". Now is not the time for the Queen to be seen mingling with movie stars and enjoying the glamorous life while people in Valencia are still searching for their loved ones and trying to piece their life together.

Alisa said:

Smart decision! There were already people hurling messages at Letizia and Felipe "go back to your palace, what have you lost?". Now is not the time for the Queen to be seen mingling with movie stars and enjoying the glamorous life while people in Valencia are still searching for their loved ones and trying to piece their life together.

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It is a local film festival held in a town and the queen participates in an event where the history of Spanish cinema is taught to teenagers... so it doesn't have any glamour or big movie stars.

In any case, it is normal that this event is cancelled, as many others have been cancelled in Spain. The meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Cervantes Institute, which they were supposed to attend and which is organised by the government, was also cancelled.

lula-Gracias for sharing the updates on the activities of the SRF as they relate to the tragic flooding in Valencia.

Following the instructions of His Majesty the King, 195 members of the Royal Guard and 48 agents of the Security Service of the House of His Majesty the King have been deployed, since last Thursday, October 31, and in a staggered manner, in the areas of the Spanish Levant affected by the DANA.

With the aim of carrying out rescue work, cleaning and sanitation of streets, evacuation of belongings from homes and garages, care for disabled and vulnerable people, reinforcement of security, night surveillance and food supply, 14 TT vehicles, 2 transport vans, 2 SYR dogs and 4 drones have also been sent for the moment.

Thank you for the work you are doing in the service of the Spanish people in these difficult times.

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Source:

King Felipe and Queen Letizia’s decision to face the crowds in Valencia has resulted in high marks from the people.

lula said:

It is a local film festival held in a town and the queen participates in an event where the history of Spanish cinema is taught to teenagers... so it doesn't have any glamour or big movie stars.

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I never said big movie stars or international movie stars. The event is a glamorous affair. Actors, producers, directors, and prominent people from the community attend and well dressed to promote the festival.

DukeOfWashington said:

King Felipe and Queen Letizia’s decision to face the crowds in Valencia has resulted in high marks from the people.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1853707160129016051

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Would someone please translate this? I went to the article to copy into Google translate but it would not allow me to do anything except subscribe. Thanks in advance!

Alisa said:

I never said big movie stars or international movie stars. The event is a glamorous affair. Actors, producers, directors, and prominent people from the community attend and well dressed to promote the festival.

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You are confusing the event... this event is a meeting with teenagers in a village cinema where they screen a classic Spanish film and pay tribute to directors or actors who have often passed away. It is a simple event, neither glamorous nor full of celebrities.

lula said:

You are confusing the event... this event is a meeting with teenagers in a village cinema where they screen a classic Spanish film and pay tribute to directors or actors who have often passed away. It is a simple event, neither glamorous nor full of celebrities.

HomeActividades y Agenda - Asistencia al “23º Festival de cine ‘Ópera Prima’ Ciudad de Tudela”

Detalle Actividad - Asistencia al “23º Festival de cine ‘Ópera Prima’ Ciudad de Tudela”

casareal.es

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Not confusing the event at all. And the event is "not a meeting" It is the same premiere cultural event for the city of Tudela that the Queen has attended over the past 4 years. Actors, directors, producers, and prominent city officials attend the event. A few years ago the Queen even presented an award for best film. You may wish to downplay the event but it is certainly one of the glamorous events on the Queen's calendar .

As of today there are 219 deaths and 93 people reported missing.
There are fears among the local population about public safety as there have been several robberies by unscrupulous thieves!
Spain deploys 15,000 police and troops to help flood relief

The queen at Zarzuela today meeting with representatives from the national social entities (Spanish Red Cross ,Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association Against Cancer ,Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases ,the General Council of the National Organization of the Spanish Blind ,The Spanish Mental Health Confederation and Spanish Committee of Representatives of People with Disabilities)

Queen Letizia has held a meeting with national social entities that are working to help people affected by DANA, in their respective areas.

Royalist.in.NC said:

Would someone please translate this? I went to the article to copy into Google translate but it would not allow me to do anything except subscribe. Thanks in advance!

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The Spanish people in general and the Valencians in particular have suspended (rejected or disapproved?) the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez ; the President of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazón , and the Ministers Fernando Grande-Marlaska (Interior) and Margarita Robles (Defense).
However, they do support the actions of Felipe VI and Letizia , and give them a high mark. Both visited Paiporta on Sunday and decided to stay in the town , despite the risk to their safety. Mazón also held out. Sánchez, on the other hand, was evacuated by his security services.

The worst rated of all is the President of the Government. Valencians give Sánchez a score of 2.6, a figure that drops even further, to 2.4, when asking all Spaniards.

The decision to stay in Paiporta this Sunday to console the neighbours has been well received by the Valencians, who give the King and Queen an even higher rating than the rest of the Spanish people. Felipe VI gets a 7.6 for the Valencians and a 7.1 for the rest of the Spanish people, while Letizia gets a 7.7 for 7.1.
Valencians value the Queen above all else. The images of Letizia crying while comforting her neighbours and asking for forgiveness may have generated greater empathy among citizens.

The action of the Royals shows the full awareness that they have to work for their position, every day. Had Felipe fled like Sanchez and committed one or two other blunders, there won't be a throne to pass on to Leonor anymore.
The only mistake might have been to go together with Sanchez in the first place but not sure who has the final word on such planning.