President of Valencia’s Generalitat, Carlos Mazón, announced his resignation on Monday — one year after the floods (DANA) in eastern Spain that left 229 people dead and provoked harsh criticism over his handling of the disaster. According to Spanish agency EFE, Mazón will remain a member of the regional parliament and does not plan to call early elections.

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“I can’t go on any longer,” said Mazón in an official statement, just days after he was confronted by victims’ relatives during a state funeral in Valencia attended by Spain’s royal family and top government officials.

The now-former Valencian leader admitted he had considered resigning “a long time ago” and expressed confidence that the regional parliament would soon select a successor to continue the region’s reconstruction efforts.

“I know I made mistakes — I admit them, and I’ll live with them for the rest of my life,” he stated in a press conference where no questions were taken.

The Valencian administration has been blamed for delaying public warnings about the severity of the storm. Authorities sent alerts to residents only after dozens had already died and multiple areas were flooded.

Meanwhile, Mazón was reportedly having lunch with a journalist at a restaurant in Valencia, remaining at the table long after the meal — seemingly unaware of the unfolding catastrophe. He has yet to explain why he delayed joining the emergency coordination team.

Mazón’s resignation came on the same day the journalist who dined with him was scheduled to testify before a Valencian judge investigating the government’s response to the floods.

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