The King and Queen of Spain presided over a memorial service at the Valencia cathedral, attended by hundreds of relatives of the deceased and high-ranking Spanish politicians. Government representatives included First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance María Jesús Montero, Minister of Territorial Policy Ángel Víctor Torres, Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities Diana Morant, and government delegate Pilar Bernabé.
Spanish President Pedro Sánchez was notably absent.
Organised by the Archbishopric, the ceremony hosted around 400 relatives of the victims. Many mayors from flood-affected municipalities were also present, including Valencian Community President Carlos Mazón, who has not yet met the families out of respect for their mourning.
The event sparked some controversy, with relatives accusing politicians of using the service to improve their image after the poorly managed disaster. Security was tight, and some relatives protested outside the cathedral, calling the politicians “murderers.”
The service, led by Archbishop Enrique Benavent, included parish priests from affected areas, Valencian bishops, the Episcopal Council, and the Cathedral Chapter.
The King and Queen offered their condolences after the hymn of the coronation of the Virgen de los Desamparados.
