The controversy (and especially the political confrontation) over the celebration of a mascletà in Madrid continues to rage. This Monday, after the firing of more than 300 kilos of gunpowder in Madrdi Río, the mayor of València, the popular María José Catalá, responded to criticism for the alleged death of birds as a result of the thunderous firecrackers. "We must have a superbreed of ducks in Valencia. Maybe we have a superbreed of ducks in Valencia and we don't know it," the mayor said ironically after being asked about the criticism from Más Madrid and environmental groups about the possible damage of this pyrotechnic act on the fauna.
The mayor stressed that "the controversy of recent weeks" surrounding the Madrid mascletà "has shown" that "there is a high level of ignorance" about the Fallas. Catalá has highlighted that these celebrations are "Intangible Heritage of Humanity" and has insisted that "to continue defending that position" these festivals must be "promoted much more" and unfortunate comments must be avoided.
Catalá was not the only PP leader who came out against the criticism. The president of the Community of Madrid, who participated this morning in an informative breakfast, also used the irony: "it must be that the ducks in València resist everything and in Madrid, upside down the first time."
The spokesperson for the socialist municipal group in the Valencia City Council, Sandra Gómez, responded to these statements, demanding that the Madrid president “respect the Fallas because her statements are a mockery and contempt for a festival that is a World Heritage Site. ”. Gómez regretted that María José Catalá “has joined this mockery.”
“There are no ducks in the Town Hall square,” responded Gómez, who reproached Catalá for “the lack of respect from Ayuso who, because he doesn't know, doesn't even know where the mascletà is fired.” So he has demanded “respect” and “prudence” because “the lack of knowledge that they themselves have about how our festivals take place is their greatest enemy.”
