Spain’s Transport Minister Óscar Puente resigned on Tuesday evening, nearly a week after a high-speed train collision killed nearly 70 people. The crash was the deadliest in the country in a decade and raised concerns about Spain’s rail system ahead of national elections.
Puente told lawmakers that he could not remain in office after two accidents of such severity in less than a year. He announced his decision after days of resisting calls to resign and a day of questioning about the events leading up to the crash, in which one high-speed train struck the rear of another on the same tracks.
Ester Muñoz, spokesperson for the opposition Popular Party, criticized Puente’s handling of rail safety during the parliamentary session. Several political parties had called for his departure, while recent polls found that a majority of Spaniards believed he should step down.
The resignation comes ahead of snap elections scheduled for Nov. 29 and leaves Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez without a minister he had publicly supported. After Puente’s announcement, Sánchez said the minister had accepted responsibility, offered solutions and stepped aside, adding that politicians like him bring dignity to the country.
Sources: The New York Times World.