Vox filed a criminal complaint on 29 October 2026 with the Tribunal Supremo against Óscar Puente, Spain’s Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility. The party refers to the serious train crash of 28 October near Urda in the province of Toledo and accuses the minister, among other things, of negligent homicide and negligent bodily injury. According to the complainants, the minister contributed to the consequences of the accident through omissions and a lack of oversight.
The complaint was filed with Spain’s Supreme Court because alleged offences committed in office by members of the government fall within the jurisdiction of the Tribunal Supremo. This is due to ministers’ special constitutional jurisdictional status (Aforamiento). The court will first consider admissibility, its own jurisdiction and whether there are sufficient grounds for an initial suspicion. At this stage, the criminal chamber may request preliminary evidence, such as official documents on rail infrastructure, and decide how to proceed. Vox is seeking to have Puente questioned as a suspect and to have relevant documents – including papers from the state infrastructure administration Adif – examined.
The train crash near Urda caused numerous deaths and injuries; the authorities are still investigating the precise toll and the causes. Criminal and administrative investigations are under way alongside the political dispute. Technical reports are expected to establish whether human error, technical failures, infrastructure deficiencies or a combination of these factors were responsible. This would typically involve examining track and signalling systems, operational records, and maintenance and oversight obligations. It is important to note that a criminal complaint does not establish guilt. The facts will only be investigated once the Supreme Court opens formal proceedings.
According to media reports, sources close to the ministry said that Óscar Puente would cooperate with the investigation and be available to give explanations to parliament. It was also announced that documents from the ministry and Adif would be made available to the relevant authorities for examination.
The complaint has intensified the political debate over rail safety in Spain. While the opposition is demanding a swift investigation and accountability, other political figures and experts point out that firm conclusions can only be drawn once the technical findings are available. The progress of the Tribunal Supremo’s examination and the results of the accident analyses will determine whether the criminal complaint leads to further legal action.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).