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A protest organized by the IES El Palmeral Platform for People Affected turned violent on Saturday, with accusations, threats and punches exchanged between critics and supporters of Carlos Mazón.
The president of the Generalitat and leader of the Partido Popular in the Valencian Community, Carlos Mazón, faced a tense reception in Orihuela, where demonstrators gathered to protest the policies of the Consell.
Amid banners criticising the Valencian government’s education policies, one saying “Our studies are not a toy,” Mazón was forced to flee the scene under the escort of party colleagues and senior Consell officials. The confrontation erupted outside a bar where Mazón had been chatting to followers before attending an event in La Lonja Auditorium, on language policy in Valencian schools.
Mazón made his way through as best he could while some men started a fist fight in which police officers intervened and stopped.
One of the banners read, “Our studies are not a toy,” as protesters surrounded Mazón as he attempted to leave the bar.
He was en route to a meeting with mayors and PP campaigners from the Vega Baja at the La Lonja Auditorium, where he was set to discuss the Law on Educational Freedom and the choice of the main language in schools, ahead of a scheduled vote on Tuesday.
The crowd chanted slogans such as “Murderer” – a reference to his handling of Valencia’s Dana crisis – and “Mazón resign.” Some of his supporters responded with shoving, escalating tensions into a physical altercation that required the intervention of police. Videos of the incident quickly spread on social media.
Representatives from the opposing PSPV and Compromís seized on the situation, sharing footage with the remark, “This is how Mazón is received in Orihuela,” and calling for his resignation. Meanwhile, accounts close to the Popular Party criticised the opposition for using the images to push for Mazón’s removal from the Consell.
After the initial protest, demonstrators moved to the La Lonja Auditorium, where Mazón was scheduled to speak.
In a later statement to the media, Mazón addressed the protests, urging Orihuela’s educational community “not to be misled by political deception.” He said that the city had been advocating for an integrated vocational training centre for two decades telling residents that “it will not make things worse but better.”
The Root of the Protest: IES El Palmeral Dispute
The Integrated Vocational Training Centre (CIFP) in Orihuela has sparked significant criticism, particularly regarding its impact on existing educational institutions and students. The controversy largely revolves around the conversion of IES El Palmeral into a CIFP, which will see its ESO (secondary) and Bachillerato (high school) students relocated to other institutions.
Protesters claim that the decision was rushed through by the Generalitat and the Orihuela government, that there was a lack of Transparency and Consensus. They say that it was made without sufficient consultation with students, parents, and teachers.
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