Spain’s transport minister resigns after deadly train crash

Oscar Puente, Spain’s transport minister and a close ally of Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, resigned on Tuesday night.

His resignation came after an hours-long grilling by the Parliament’s standing committee, which is acting on behalf of the Parliament while it is dissolved ahead of the Nov. 29 snap election.

“My decision is a matter of political dignity,” Puente said, adding that it was the right call for “a modern country, not a failed state as some claim.”

Puente has been cornered by allies and foes alike, who called for him to step down after last week’s train crash, in which 69 people died. It was the second deadly rail disaster in Spain this year after January’s accident in Adamuz, which killed 46 people. Puente had held the post since 2023.

After a cabinet meeting on Tuesday morning, Puente brushed off calls for his resignation from some of the government’s allies, including members of Sumar, the coalition’s junior partner.

Sánchez has publicly backed Puente after the Toledo crash raised questions about how Spain manages its rail infrastructure and dealt a blow to his re-election hopes.

This breaking story is being updated.