Puente admite que puso su cargo a disposición de Sánchez, que consideró “injusto” su cese

Transport Minister Oscar Puente admitted Friday that he placed his position at the disposal of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez following the catastrophic train collision in Urda, Toledo province, which has claimed at least 69 lives. Sanchez rejected the offer, telling Puente that dismissing him would be unjust. This exchange occurred less than a month before national elections, amid intense political pressure for ministerial resignation after two major rail disasters in under ten months. The second high-speed rail accident in Spain within nine months resulted in a combined death toll of 115 victims, including the 46 killed in the Adamuz incident last year. During a nearly two-hour press conference at the Ministry of Transport headquarters, Puente confirmed he had offered his resignation but stated he would remain in office. He argued that his current obligation was not to discuss his continuity but to resolve the crisis, clarify the events, provide explanations, and implement solutions. Puente attributed the primary cause of the Urda crash to a failure at the ADIF traffic control center in Atocha, Madrid. Two high-speed trains, one operated by Renfe and another by Iryo, were traveling on the same track from Madrid to Seville when they collided. While acknowledging that citizens have the right to demand accountability, Puente warned against confusing the search for responsibility with the need to quickly find a scapegoat. He stated he would not use any worker as a shield nor prejudge individual responsibilities. The Prime Minister’s office initially suggested that accumulating two fatal train accidents in the same year was unacceptable for Spain. Some voices within the Socialist Workers Party interpreted these comments as a precursor to Puente's dismissal. However, officials at the Royal Palace confirmed the following day that the minister retained the government leader's confidence. Puente reiterated this support, noting that Sanchez asked him to continue serving. In a separate commentary piece analyzing the situation, critics alleged that government insiders leaked audio recordings of an Atocha control room technician shortly after the disaster. These leaks appeared to target a specific employee, who was described as being exposed to public scrutiny while broader systemic failures remained unaddressed. Labor unions UGT and CCOO rejected this narrative, arguing that the Spanish railway network represents a political and systemic failure characterized by understaffing, impossible shifts, and ignored warnings regarding outdated infrastructure. The commentary noted that hundreds of workers have protested over working conditions and safety concerns during this legislative term. Puente defended his decision to stay, stating that hiding behind others was not an option because he had nothing to hide. He expressed immense pain over the tragedy but insisted that grief should not paralyze his ability to act. As minister, he accepted responsibility for ensuring procedures function correctly and that necessary measures are adopted to prevent recurrence. He pledged that if investigations reveal failures in controls or organization, appropriate actions will be taken, and individual responsibilities will be pursued if determined. The minister drew a comparison between his handling of the crisis and the response by former Infrastructure Minister Ana Pastor during the 2013 Angrois accident, which resulted in 80 deaths. Puente stated he understood the political project he belongs to and believed his presence did not harm it. He acknowledged the difficulty of facing public insults and prejudice during an election campaign but maintained that leaving would contradict his character and was not requested by Sanchez. Sources close to the ministry indicated that Puente is considering abstaining from participating in the electoral campaign, which begins on November 13. Although no final decision has been made, he does not believe his participation in rallies is essential for the party. The prime minister’s team has since withdrawn some campaign slogans and adjusted the tone of their messaging due to the mourning period associated with the 69 fatalities in Urda. Investigations into the Urda crash are ongoing, with authorities focusing on the technical failures at the Atocha control center. Puente emphasized that the trust of citizens in high-speed rail is broken and that the response must focus on preventing future tragedies. He stated that if he believed his continuation harmed the political project, he would have stepped aside. Instead, he committed to fulfilling his duties until further notice, despite the political volatility surrounding the incident. The opposition parties, including the Popular Party and Vox, have demanded immediate accountability, adding to the pressure on the government leadership.