Spain’s transport minister handed in his resignation on Tuesday after the train crash that killed 69 people last week, one of the worst railway disasters in Europe this century.
Óscar Puente, who had earlier pledged to work “tirelessly” to restore confidence in the world’s second-largest high-speed rail network, also said he was withdrawing from the country’s upcoming general election.
Last week’s crash, and another disaster earlier this year, have overshadowed campaigning for the 29 November ballot, in which the Socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, is trailing in opinion polls.
Puente had ruled out resigning on several occasions since the disaster.
But at the end of a lengthy hearing before lawmakers, he said: “I wish to inform you that I am not only stepping down from my position as minister of transport, but that I am also withdrawing my name from the lists for the early legislative elections on 29 November.”
Hours earlier, at a press conference during which he presented measures to improve safety, the minister had said the government would “work tirelessly to achieve and regain the public’s trust in high-speed rail”. » | AFP in Madrid | Tuesday, November 3, 2026
