Spain’s transport minister, Oscar Puente, announced on Tuesday, November 3, that he was resigning, nearly a week after a rail disaster in Urda, near Toledo, killed at least 69 people. He also said he would not appear on the lists of candidates for the early general election scheduled for November 29.
Puente made the announcement after a lengthy appearance before lawmakers. He said a transport minister could not remain in office after two accidents of such severity in less than a year, even if the incidents were different and he bore no direct responsibility. He also cited the January disaster in Adamuz, Andalusia, which killed 46 people.
“This is a question of political dignity, consistency and empathy with the victims,” Puente said. He added that he had decided to leave in the first minutes after learning of the Urda tragedy, but made the decision public only after what he described as the most urgent work had been completed: initial investigations, first steps toward compensation and short-term measures to improve rail safety.
Earlier on Tuesday, after a cabinet meeting, Puente had presented an extraordinary plan to strengthen safety on Spain’s high-speed rail network, along with aid for survivors and victims’ families. He said the government would work “without respite” to restore public confidence in the network.
Sources: Le Monde Économie.