Mazón's Resignation Prompts Pampols: "I'd Offer My Position to the Successor President"
In the aftermath of the devastating floods in Valencia, a comprehensive Recovery Plan is underway to rebuild, modernise, and climate-proof the affected infrastructure. The key figure leading this initiative is Francisco José Gan Pampols, the Vice President for Recovery from Damage, who was appointed nine months ago by Carlos Mazón.
The Recovery Plan, currently in the public consultation process, comprises 340 measures aimed at rebuilding what was lost and placing it in a better position to withstand future similar phenomena. Gan Pampols emphasises that this plan is not based on partisan criteria but focuses on people, infrastructure, the environment, social and community fabric, economy, and commerce.
One of the significant projects within the Recovery Plan is Iberdrola’s il.lumina project, financed by the European Investment Bank (EIB) with two €25 million loans signed in July 2025. This project aims to rebuild damaged electrical infrastructure, improve grid resilience against extreme weather, integrate renewable energy, and digitalise the grid to benefit over 650,000 electricity clients in Valencia.
The European Investment Bank, Iberdrola, and the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise are key institutions supporting this project, which is part of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) mandates, requiring all milestones to be completed by August 2026. This national plan includes numerous initiatives for a sustainable, resilient economy, integrating green and digital transitions, such as the one in Valencia.
Gan Pampols has turned to PwC, a private consultancy firm, to elaborate the Recovery Plan. While PwC helps in the elaboration, it does not make the plan. The Vice President for Recovery from Damage stresses that the Recovery Plan is a collaborative effort, and he would put his position at the disposal of the next president if Mazón were to resign.
In terms of the ongoing judicial investigation, Gan Pampols does not express curiosity about Mazón's whereabouts on October 29. He finds it disproportionate and out of place to accuse Mazón of murder. Gan Pampols believes it is necessary to attend to the pain, mitigate it, and support victims of damage.
Looking ahead, Gan Pampols believes that Valencians would be better prepared in case of a new disaster, but not from the infrastructure as not all have been recovered yet. Once the new Commissioner for the Damage, Zulima Pérez, is officially appointed, Gan Pampols will seek a date to meet and try to improve the coordination model.
Climate change is not a question for Gan Pampols. He perceives it as "evident" and does not follow any political guideline in the development of the Recovery Plan. Instead, he focuses on rebuilding Valencia and preparing it for a more resilient future.
- The Recovery Plan, driven by Francisco José Gan Pampols, includes measures that focus on various aspects such as people, infrastructure, the environment, economy, and commerce, aiming to rebuild and climate-proof the affected infrastructure in Valencia.
- The il.lumina project, a significant part of the Recovery Plan, aimed at rebuilding damaged electrical infrastructure, integrating renewable energy, and digitalizing the grid, is supported by the European Investment Bank, Iberdrola, and the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Trade and Enterprise.
- Gan Pampols believes that climate change is evident and does not follow any political guideline in the development of the Recovery Plan, instead focusing on building a more resilient Valencia for the future.
