Spain's transport minister Óscar Puente resigns following fatal Toledo train accident

Spain's Minister of Transport Óscar Puente has announced his resignation "out of political dignity" following the fatal train accident in Urda, near Toledo.

"A Minister of Transport cannot remain in office after two accidents of such severity in less than a year, regardless of how different they may be, or whether or not I bear direct responsibility for them," he said.

As well as last week's fatal accident in Toledo, where 69 people died, in January of this same year, 46 people lost their lives after another rail disaster in Adamuz, near Córdoba, in Andalusia. 

"It is a matter of political dignity, consistency, and empathy for the victims," ​​Puente said in his final remarks during his Congress appearance.

He stated his decision was "good for the country and good for democracy."

Puente added that he will also not stand in the upcoming election. "Not all politicians are the same," he concluded.

The now former transport minister saved the announcement of his resignation for his final remarks during his appearance. It was a decision, he affirmed, that he reached "in the very first minutes" after learning of the accident, while he was on his way to Adif’s 24-hour control center.

He chose to announce his resignation in Congress only "once the most urgent and pressing tasks had been completed, conducting initial investigations to understand what happened, taking immediate measures to support the victims, and improving the safety of the railway system in the short term, as far as possible."

"There is much work to be done, and it is impossible not to feel this pain personally, though my own suffering is but a tiny fraction of what the victims endure, but please have no doubt that I do feel it," he said.

He also insisted that he has always "told the truth" and "faced the situation" regarding the accident, adding that he "does not have the answer" as to why the Adif operator made "a wrong decision."

In any case, according to the minister, "it will be the judicial authority that investigates and questions the operator, to determine whether any circumstances within the individual's working conditions might have led them to make a wrong decision."

"I have told the truth based on what I have heard, seen, and been told about what happened, backed by tangible evidence," he asserted, in response to accusations from groups that criticized him for placing the responsibility on the Adif operator.

He also sought to debunk "lies" regarding the operators' working conditions, explaining that they work a schedule of six days on followed by four days off. "I won't get into whether or not these conditions could be improved," he said, but "Adif employees are subject to a 37-hour work week and have specific working conditions."

Carlos Cuerpo to take over

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced on Wednesday that First Deputy Prime Minister Carlos Cuerpo will temporarily take over the Transport Ministry following Óscar Puente's resignation.

Speaking in an official statement at Moncloa Palace, Sánchez praised Puente's gesture as one of "political consistency and dignity," which he said he had accepted "with gratitude and respect."

The outgoing transport minister stepped aside to demonstrate to the victims "the government's enormous respect" and to show that "not all public servants are the same," Sánchez said.