"I didn't know what Cecopi was": Mazón's number two testifies before the dana judge after entering through the back door to avoid the victims

The first vice-president of the Consell, Susana Camarero, declared this Wednesday as a witness before the judge investigating the DANA case and assured that on the day of the catastrophe she was unaware of the functioning of the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi), even admitting that "I didn't know what a Cecopi was". During her appearance, she also maintained that she did not maintain contact with the then president of the Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, during the afternoon of October 29, 2024, and defended that the management of the emergency corresponded to the then Minister of Interior, Salomé Pradas.

Before magistrate Nuria Ruiz Tobarra, Camarero explained that on the morning of the tragedy, Mazón asked the members of the Consell to be aware of the evolution of the emergency within the competencies of each department. According to her account, this indication occurred during the meeting of the Valencian Government held early in the morning, after Pradas reported on the alert situation.

The Valencian leader assured that, once the day progressed, she did not speak again with the president. "With Mr. Mazón I have no contact that afternoon because I consider that the situation is handled by the minister," she stated in reference to Pradas, who is under investigation in the judicial procedure. In the same vein, she added that "I do not speak with the president when there is an emergency situation" and stressed that she also did not receive direct instructions. "Nor did he contact me. No instructions," she pointed out.

Regarding her participation in the Cecopi, she explained that she was not initially part of that coordination body and that, when she received the summons at noon, she forwarded it to the regional secretary of Family and Social Services, Nacho Grande, so that he could connect in her place. She later decided to join the telematic meeting to directly learn about the situation of the centers and resources dependent on her department. "To find out firsthand how the situation is regarding my centers and my resources," she indicated.

Camarero's appearance took place within the framework of the investigation opened into the management of the catastrophe that left 230 people during the floods of October 29, 2024. She is the first member of Carlos Mazón's Valencian Government to have declared as a witness in this case.

While the statement was taking place, representatives of the main associations of DANA victims gathered at the doors of the Catarroja courthouses. However, the vice president accessed the building before the scheduled time and through the back door of the courthouses to avoid meeting with the representatives of those affected. According to the High Court of Justice of the Valencian Community, the regional leader had judicial authorization to enter the complex through the garage, a measure adopted by recommendation of the security forces.