Huge New York sign tells under-fire Valencia leader he need not return home

MADRID (Reuters) -A giant digital sign in New York's Times Square told beleaguered Spanish politician Carlos Mazon on his visit to the city that he had "228 reasons not to come home", in reference to how many people died in October's flash floods on the Valencian regional leader's watch.

The Spanish left-wing party Compromis said on Friday it had taken advantage of Mazon's trip to New York to place the sign on Thursday, saying in a statement that it was "reminding him of his disastrous management" of the floods.

Mazon has faced repeated calls to resign over his management on the day of the torrential rainfall that flooded commuter towns around the city of Valencia. He has refused to step down.

The huge New York sign, with text written in the Valencian dialect, showed Mazon's face with images of overflowing rivers in the background.

A spokeswoman for the Valencian government declined to comment. Mazon has posted photos of his meetings in New York on Facebook as he promotes his city.

Mazon was criticised for not sending an alert to Valencians until after 8 p.m. on the day of the floods, when streams of water had already swept away cars and houses.

A judge is conducting an investigation into the floods.

(Reporting by Graham Keeley)