The mayor of Salamanca and provincial chair of the Partido Popular, Carlos García Carbayo, has called Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez (PSOE) a “cancer”. The remark was made at a public appearance in Salamanca on 4 November 2026, a day after the resignation of Transport Minister Óscar Puente had been announced. According to consistent press reports, García Carbayo said verbatim: “The cancer is still there; the cancer is Pedro Sánchez.” He blamed the Prime Minister for “misgovernment” and “disorder”.
The appearance took place as part of the pre-election campaign alongside the PP’s deputy secretary-general for institutional renewal, Cuca Gamarra. García Carbayo, who has long been at odds with the former Transport Minister over Salamanca’s rail links, said farewell to Óscar Puente in harsh terms. He called him “extremely incompetent” and accused him of behaving “indecently” towards the Spanish people, particularly the residents of Salamanca. He also said that “on 29 November” voters would have the opportunity to put an end to this policy. The reference to an election date is the PP’s political assessment; the reports available did not include an official announcement of a date.
After Puente’s resignation, Carlos Cuerpo will temporarily take over responsibilities for the transport portfolio. Spanish media reported on 4 November that Cuerpo would lead the ministry on an interim basis until a permanent appointment is decided. Óscar Puente also remains listed as the PSOE’s lead candidate for the constituency of Valladolid on ballot papers that have already been printed.
García Carbayo’s choice of words is part of a heated dispute between Partido Popular and PSOE over transport policy and the role of the central government. In Salamanca, the PP has for years criticised the lack of improvements to rail services and blamed the ministry’s successive leaderships. The socialists, by contrast, regularly point to national rail-modernisation programmes and the responsibilities of transport-related companies.
The attacks from Salamanca now made public mark the first major regional clash following Puente’s departure from office. Whether this will have immediate political consequences at national level remains unclear; the assessments are clearly shaped by party politics. What is certain is that Carlos Cuerpo’s interim leadership will keep the portfolio functioning, while the parties continue to sharpen their rhetoric as the election campaign gets under way.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).