Spain's Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Oscar Puente Santiago, has resigned from his post following a high-speed train crash near Toledo that claimed the lives of 69 people.
Puente announced his decision during a speech in parliament regarding the train accident. Explaining the reason for his resignation with the words "political honor, consistency, and empathy for the victims," Puente stated that his decision was in line with the public service ethos of his party and his predecessors.
Stating that a transport minister "cannot continue in office when two accidents of this magnitude have occurred in less than a year," Puente also announced that he would not be a candidate in the early general elections to be held on November 29. Puente was the lead candidate for the Socialist Workers' Party from Valladolid.
Following the collision of two high-speed trains near the city of Toledo on October 28, the Sumar alliance, the junior partner in the coalition government, and opposition political parties had called for Puente's resignation.
The 58-year-old Puente served as the Mayor of Valladolid between 2015 and 2023. He had been serving as the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility since 2023.
News Source: 12punto
