The Spanish Royal Family and the October Flooding in Spain

[An Ard Ri]

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

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

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

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.

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).

 

[Blog Real]

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.

El 78% de los valencianos y el 76% de todos los españoles respaldan que el Rey visitara Paiporta pese al riesgo

El 68% de los valencianos y el 64% de los españoles desaprueban que Sánchez se marchara mientras los Reyes seguían consolando a los ciudadanos.

www.elespanol.com

 

[Moonmaiden23]

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.

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.

 

[carlota]

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!

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.