Carlos Mazón, the president of Spain’s Valencia region, has stepped down following intense public and political pressure over his handling of the catastrophic flash floods that struck the area on October 29, 2024. The disaster, which claimed 229 lives in Valencia and eight more in neighboring regions, marked Spain’s deadliest natural calamity in decades. Mazón faced widespread criticism for his perceived negligence during the crisis, including his decision to spend nearly four hours dining with journalist Maribel Vilaplana while floodwaters devastated communities. Additionally, his administration failed to issue emergency alerts to residents until after 8:00 PM, by which time dozens had already perished. In his resignation speech, Mazón admitted to grave errors, stating, ‘I can’t go on anymore… I know that I made mistakes, I acknowledge it and I will live with them for the rest of my life.’ He emphasized that his actions were not driven by political calculation or ill intent. Public outrage had been mounting for months, with polls showing overwhelming support for his resignation and large-scale protests demanding accountability. Mazón’s attendance at a memorial service for flood victims on the tragedy’s first anniversary further inflamed tensions, as grieving relatives confronted him during the event. His resignation coincided with Vilaplana’s testimony in a judicial investigation into potential negligence. Mazón, who will retain his seat in the regional parliament, accused Spain’s left-wing central government of withholding aid to inflict political damage. His departure poses challenges for the conservative People’s Party (PP), which must navigate its alliance with the far-right Vox party to appoint his successor.