València - Journalists at public broadcaster À Punt and a regional counselor have voiced criticism after the network aired a bullfighting program coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the devastating dana floods and related demonstrations against President Carlos Mazón. The scheduling decision, occurring on October 26, 2024, sparked outrage among those commemorating the disaster and protesting the regional government’s response.
The controversy centers on the perceived insensitivity of broadcasting a program celebrating a controversial tradition while thousands marched in València demanding accountability for the handling of the September 2023 floods, which caused widespread damage and loss of life in the southern Valencian region. Critics argue the broadcast served as an attempt to distract from the protests and downplay the significance of the anniversary.
according to a statement released by the coalition opposing mazón’s administration, the government of Mayor María José Catalá is attempting to “manipulate and censor the real number of protesters” who have been calling for mazón’s resignation since the disaster. The coalition further alleges Catalá is “complicit in keeping Mazón as president” and that attempts to silence dissent will fail, stating, “the street is a clamor: Mazón must resign now!”
À Punt has not yet issued a formal response to the criticism. the dana floods of September 2023 resulted in critically importent infrastructure damage and tragically claimed lives across the Valencian Community, particularly in the Pobles del Sud area.The protests on October 26, 2024, marked a year as the disaster and reflected ongoing public dissatisfaction with the perceived lack of adequate response and accountability from regional authorities.The bullfighting program’s broadcast has intensified scrutiny of the regional government’s priorities and its relationship with public media.
