The spokesperson for Compromís in Les Corts Valencianes, Joan Baldoví, on Monday, 2 November 2026, called on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to accept political responsibility following the train disaster near Urda (province of Toledo). He openly questioned whether Transport Minister Óscar Puente should remain in office, saying the minister should not still be in post when the upcoming elections take place. He also called for a comprehensive independent review of safety and monitoring systems on all high-speed lines.
The demands follow the serious accident of 29/30 October 2026 near Urda, in which 69 people were killed, according to current official and media reports. In the days after the disaster, Óscar Puente offered his resignation to his president; Pedro Sánchez then asked him to remain in office. Opposition parties have also been calling for consequences since then.
Baldoví linked his criticism to another serious rail incident this year near Adamuz. Two serious accidents within a few months call into question the reliability of key safety systems. He is therefore calling for a thorough audit of the networks and clear deadlines for corrective action. He described the participation of conservative parties in legal proceedings as contradictory if they were not equally determined to support a systematic review of the infrastructure.
As an immediate next step, Baldoví expects reliable information at the scheduled meeting of the Diputación Permanente of the Congreso de los Diputados. The minister is due to explain how two serious incidents could occur within such a short period, what external and internal audits are planned, and when the results will be available. Baldoví also stressed that staffing decisions were for the Partido Socialista Obrero Español and the president to make; his party was not calling for a legal presumption of guilt, but for political accountability.
The background to the debate is a diffuse allocation of responsibility between the Ministry of Transport, the state infrastructure operator ADIF and the operators of individual lines. Government statements and opposition responses have referred to technical faults, maintenance shortfalls and possible failures in risk management; the causes have not yet been conclusively established. The political dispute is taking place during an intense period of campaign events, increasing pressure for prompt, verifiable commitments on safety, audits and public accountability. Official casualty figures and dates are based on information from the authorities and national media coverage; they may change as investigations progress.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).