King Felipe VI of Spain was praised for standing his ground when pelted with mud by angry flood victims, while the Prime Minister and other officials quickly left the scene.

On November 3, King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and several officials visited the town of Paiporta in Valencia, which had suffered severe damage from historic floods in late October. As they arrived, local residents, frustrated by what they saw as a slow government response to the disaster, threw mud at the king, prime minister, and officials.

Paiporta was one of the hardest-hit areas in the October 29 floods, which claimed over 200 lives in Valencia, with at least 60 deaths recorded in Paiporta alone. While Prime Minister Sanchez and other politicians left under the protection of security personnel after being targeted, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia chose to stay, even after being struck with mud on their faces and clothes. Despite the hostility and insults from the crowd, the king approached the people, engaged with them, and offered reassurance for an hour.

Constitutional expert Montserrat Nebrera described the moment as symbolic, emphasizing the significance of the king's presence amid the chaos. Political science professor Oriol Bartomeus noted that King Felipe demonstrated true leadership by remaining calm and speaking with the people directly, rather than fleeing.

"King Felipe didn’t act like a distant ruler. He communicated with the citizens on an equal level, assuring them that while the state may not have been there immediately, it would be present to support them," Bartomeus explained.

Although King Felipe VI’s role is largely ceremonial, he took the throne in 2015 after his father, Juan Carlos, abdicated amid scandals. Felipe has faced criticism for appearing distant from the people and has relied on Queen Letizia, a former journalist, to connect more closely with the public. He has previously encountered public discontent, such as during the memorial for the victims of the 2017 Barcelona terror attack.

After visiting Paiporta, King Felipe held a meeting with Prime Minister Sanchez and emergency officials, calling for hope and urgent support for those affected by the floods.

(According to AP, CNN, El Mundo)

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