Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Nov. 4 named Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo to temporarily lead the Transport Ministry after Transport Minister Oscar Puente announced he would resign amid scrutiny over two fatal train crashes.
Puente’s departure is not yet formal. Reuters reported that it takes effect after publication in Spain’s official state gazette. In a televised address, Sanchez praised Puente’s “political dignity” and said Cuerpo had demonstrated management ability and integrity. The handover comes as rail safety and maintenance remain under scrutiny.
After a four-hour session with lawmakers from a caretaker parliamentary body on Nov. 3, Puente said he had decided to leave soon after the Oct. 28 crash in Urda, Reuters reported. Most parties at the session called on him to accept responsibility for the disasters, the outlet said. Reuters reported that the two crashes killed 115 people in total.
Puente had earlier said he would remain in office while authorities investigated the Urda collision and he worked to address rail-system problems, Reuters reported. EconoTimes had previewed Puente’s questioning by lawmakers over the Urda crash while the government was preparing aid for victims.
Reuters described Puente as a close Sanchez ally whose clashes with political opponents made him a prominent figure in Parliament and on X. He had led the transport ministry since November 2023, overseeing rail-network expansion and investments partly supported by European Union recovery funds, Reuters reported. Unions and opposition parties criticized his record on maintenance spending and rail disruptions, the outlet said. Reuters reported that a Senate motion called for Puente to leave in February, following a fatal crash on the Madrid-Seville line.
Polling after the Urda crash showed support for the ruling Socialists had dipped slightly, Reuters reported. Reuters said the Socialists had hoped to campaign by citing their social-services record and addressing the housing crisis. Reuters said Puente’s departure removes one of the Socialists’ combative campaign voices. Puente said he would not run in the Nov. 29 election.
