This week has seen flash floods raging across the Valencian Community of Spain as well as other parts of the South-East with the death toll already above 200.
While this has been a terrible natural disaster the blame for such a high death toll and risk to human life lies squarely at the far right-wing coalition (led by Partido Poble and Vox) of the region and the brutal capitalist system which they serve
Since the formation of the regional government in the aftermath of the elections in 2023, the far-right government has removed emergency services from the region to suit the neoliberal agenda of their coalition with the far-right Vox party.
The State Meteorological Agency ( AEMET ) sent warnings to the autonomous government as early as the 24th of October, 5 days before the floods hit, and yet the government sat on their hands until the 29th of October, leaving the warning far too late.
In the aftermath of the floods they have also refused help from French and Catalán emergency services.
The Spanish capitalist class also has an immense amount of blood on their hands as they have continued to send the working-class to carry out their jobs despite the major warnings from AEMET.
On top of this, major supermarkets like Mercadona have been continuing to throw away food, water and other essential resources. This is a despicable act regardless but it is particularly disgusting in the middle of such a major catastrophe. This scandal is further exacerbated by the Civil Guard and Police who have arrested people for attempting to take food from flooded supermarkets. Despite the fact that civilians have been left to dig out their own dead, the police have wasted their time enforcing the depraved logic of capitalism which would refuse desperate people food and water even from a shop which is flooded and will simply throw away such essentials.
In juxtaposition to these horrific scenes from the fascist government, police and landowners; the Spanish and Catalán working-class have filled the role that the government and police have abandoned. Thousands of volunteers have travelled to affected areas and helped with acts of solidarity, mutual aid and generosity.
This catastrophe has shown that despite the deranged nature of the economic system, the people have no need for the leeches and vultures who hold the power. The working-class needs no other saviour than itself; nor is anyone going to save us in times like these. As climate change continues to worsen, only the working-class can liberate and save the Earth.
Solidarity with the Spanish and Valencian working-class.
Dlúthpháirtíocht agus Beir Bua.