Spain’s transport minister Oscar Puente addresses parliament on the deadly train crash near Toledo, in Madrid, Spain
Spain’s transport minister Óscar Puente resigned six days after a high-speed train collision south of Madrid killed 69 people. He announced his decision on Tuesday after appearing before lawmakers for several hours to explain the circumstances surrounding the October 28 crash.
“A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot remain in office after two accidents of this seriousness in less than a year,” Puente said. Puente took responsibility for the second major rail disaster in the country this year. These include upgrading conditions in control centres and accelerating the rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System, a standardised technology designed to improve railway signalling and safety.
Earlier on Tuesday, Puente announced a series of measures to improve railway safety.
On the night of the October 28 collision, police clashed with hundreds of protesters outside the transport ministry headquarters. Earlier reporting noted: Spain’s transport minister resigns six days after deadly high-speed train crash kills 69 Madrid, Nov 4 (AP) : Spain’s transport minister announced Tuesday that he is stepping down, six days after a high-speed train collision south of Madrid killed 69 people. He had already announced that he would not contest the polls.
Earlier reporting noted: “A transport minister in a country like Spain cannot continue in his post after two accidents in less than a year,” Puente told lawmakers. “It’s a question of political dignity, coherence and empathy with the victims.” The resignation also comes amid growing public anger over the accidents. Some demonstrators carried placards demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Puente’s departure comes just three weeks before Spain’s general election. Sánchez had called the election early following a series of corruption scandals, concerns over housing affordability and setbacks for his Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) in municipal elections.
Earlier reporting noted: Transport Minister Óscar Puente made the announcement at the end of an hours-long appearance before lawmakers about the crash – the second such deadly collision this year involving Spain’s extensive high-speed rail network.
Puente said he had decided to step down immediately after the latest accident but had kept the decision private. “There was a red signal prohibiting movement, yet the train was authorised to proceed,” Puente said last week. “It is a decision made under inexplicable circumstances.”
His resignation comes amid mounting pressure from opposition politicians and railway workers’ unions, who had called for him to quit following the disaster.