Spain's Transport Minister resigns after two fatal train accidents

Following the sudden resignation of Spain's Transport Minister Oscar Puente, prompted by two fatal train accidents on the country's high-speed rail lines in 2026, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has taken steps to implement a new cabinet reshuffle.

Accordingly, the Prime Minister announced on November 4 that Carlos Cuerpo, who is both the Minister of Economic Affairs and his deputy, has been appointed to temporarily oversee the Ministry of Transport. The Prime Minister further stated that Cuerpo is someone who has demonstrated immense management capability and integrity.

There was intense pressure from the opposition and allied parties for the Transport Minister to take responsibility for these fatal train accidents, which claimed the lives of 115 people. After being subjected to intense questioning for about four hours before a parliamentary committee on the night of November 3, 57-year-old Puente announced his decision to resign to lawmakers.

However, it was later revealed that he had made this decision immediately after the second train accident occurred on October 28 in the Urda region of central Spain. But he concealed this from even the Prime Minister, informing only his family members. Prior to that, he had publicly stated that he would remain in office to address systemic shortcomings and for investigative purposes.

In a short televised message, Prime Minister Sánchez praised Puente's political integrity and stated that his decision helped the country rebuild trust in the railway system. The Prime Minister said, "Politicians like him bring honor to our country and show that we are not all the same. While some merely preach, others give their best," adding that Puente provided solutions to problems and then honorably stepped down.

Puente, a lawyer and former mayor, was appointed Minister of Transport in November 2023 and oversaw the expansion of Spain's railway network with the aid of EU recovery funds. However, due to insufficient investment in maintenance and frequent breakdowns, he had been under severe criticism from trade unions and the opposition for years. Last February, a motion was also presented to the Senate urging him to resign after another fatal accident occurred on the Madrid-Seville line. The October 28 accident also happened on the same line.

Puente's sudden departure, as a highly trusted and influential minister of Prime Minister Sánchez, has been a significant loss for the ruling Socialist Party, which is preparing for the upcoming election campaign. Opinion polls conducted after the October 28 accident also showed a slight decline in support for the ruling party. The ruling party had intended to base its election campaign on maintaining social services and finding solutions to the housing crisis.

Puente, also referred to by media critics as the Prime Minister's "attack dog," was an aggressive figure who frequently clashed with rivals on the X social media platform and within parliament. Due to this nature, he was also discussed as a leading candidate to succeed Prime Minister Sánchez in party leadership.

Puente's resignation will come into effect after its publication in the official state gazette. He has also further confirmed that he will not be a candidate for the upcoming election on November 29.