Ex-member Dana's José María Ángel released from hospital following suicide attempt admission
José María Ángel Batalla, the former government commissioner for post-disaster reconstruction, has resigned from his position following an investigation into allegations that he falsified his resume to advance as a civil servant in the Valencia Provincial Council in 1986.
The investigation into his resume authenticity drew significant media attention and political consequences, as Batalla had held important roles, including mayor, senator, and regional secretary, before his recent appointment as commissioner for reconstruction after the DANA flooding disaster.
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office is reportedly involved in examining his academic credentials because of the falsification suspicion. However, no further information is provided about the outcome of the investigation.
Batalla's resignation was submitted to the Ministry of Territorial Policy, and he also stepped down as president of the Valencian socialists under the PSPV-PSOE leadership. His resignation was followed by a suicide attempt on July 31, which landed him at the Liria Hospital for recovery.
Minister Diana Morant and other officials have denounced the "harassment" and "inhuman hunt" suffered by José María Ángel as contributing factors in his suicide attempt. Morant expressed her shock and sadness over the incident, stating that such treatment "is what leads certain people to make certain decisions" and that people do not want to leave their families or live in such conditions.
The wave of resume fraud allegations has led to three resignations and revealed a dozen cases of potential misrepresentation of qualifications among public officials. Ignacio Higuero, the Consejero de Gestión Forestal y Mundo Rural of the Junta de Extremadura, also resigned last week after admitting not having the certification of the degree he claimed in his curriculum.
The Valencian Government has expressed its wish for a speedy recovery for José María Ángel and gratitude to the healthcare and fire services for their swift action. Batalla's condition is serious, but he may have a good recovery, according to reports.
It's important to note that prior to his appointment as commissioner, Ángel's career at the Valencia Provincial Council had always been "respected." José María Ángel served as the mayor of the Valencian town of L'Eliana for 18 years, provincial deputy, territorial senator, and director of the Valencian Agency for Security and Emergency Response of the Generalitat.
Pedro Sánchez and Diana Morant have expressed their affection and support for José María Ángel and his family through messages on social network X. Morant's comments were made on the program Mananeros de La 1 of a certain website.
In the aftermath, there have been calls from officials like Morant to treat the matter with "humanity," especially as Batalla reportedly faced significant personal distress. The scandal occurred amid a wider wave of CV falsification revelations affecting several Spanish politicians from multiple parties during the summer of 2025, provoking several resignations and intense public scrutiny of politicians' academic qualifications.
- The investigation into José María Ángel Batalla's falsified resume led to a wave of scrutiny in the realm of policy-and-legislation, causing a chain reaction of resignations from public officials, including Ignacio Higuero, the Consejero de Gestión Forestal y Mundo Rural of the Junta de Extremadura.
- The general-news media and politics have been deeply engaged in discussions on mental-health, as the controversy surrounding Batalla's academic credentials led to allegations of credentials misrepresentation among multiple Spanish politicians, shedding light on the importance of average-public servants maintaining honest resumes in science-related fields and health-and-wellness sectors.
- Amidst the controversies, calls for humanity and compassion have arisen in the aftermath, with officials like Diana Morant emphasizing the personal struggles faced by public figures like Batalla, arguing that harsh treatment may lead to devastating mental-health consequences and undesirable decisions, impacting not only their standing in policy-and-legislation but also their personal lives.
