Óscar Puente is set to face a sharply divided hearing in Congress on Tuesday, with several parliamentary groups calling for his resignation over the rail disaster in Urda, Toledo. The extraordinary session of the Permanent Deputation will bring together 69 members, rather than the full 350-seat chamber.
Calls for Puente to leave have come from the opposition parties PP, Vox and Junts, as well as from some of the PSOE’s government partners, now grouped under the Frente Amplio name. Many lawmakers argue that even if the minister was not directly responsible for the causes of the accident, he must answer politically for the railway system under his authority.
The PNV’s spokesperson, Maribel Vaquero, said that if Puente does not resign, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez should take responsibility and dismiss him. ERC had said it would wait for the minister’s explanation, while Podemos had already called for his departure. PSOE and EH Bildu are not expected to back the resignation demand; EH Bildu wants to await the technical investigation’s conclusions.
Puente has no plans to step aside. After the accident, he offered his resignation to Sánchez, who rejected it and asked him to remain in charge of the response. The minister has nevertheless faced criticism for his initial public statements, including focusing first on a worker’s actions, raising the possibility of suspending high-speed rail services and failing to reassure passengers about network safety.
For his appearance, Puente is expected to cite investment figures and support for victims. The Transport Ministry says funding for Adif maintenance has doubled since 2018, reaching €1.375 billion in 2026. The Cabinet also approved a package of measures shortly before the hearing, including doubling compensation under the compulsory passenger insurance scheme, advancing payments and improving assistance for those affected.
Sources: La Vanguardia.