Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has declared that there is a "broken trust" in the nation's high-speed rail system following two catastrophic accidents. Speaking on Friday after an emergency coordination meeting held at the operational command post, Sánchez emphasized that incidents of the magnitude of those in Adamuz and Urda, which resulted in nearly 120 fatalities, are "unacceptable" for a country like Spain.
The Prime Minister argued that the government's responsibility extends beyond merely investigating the causes of these events. He stated that the administration must also provide concrete solutions to ensure such a tragedy does not recur. Sánchez reiterated his initial stance that it is untenable for Spain, which possesses a powerful high-speed rail network, to suffer two accidents of this scale within just a few months.
While Sánchez has not issued an explicit message of support for Transport Minister Óscar Puente during his three brief public appearances this week, official government sources continue to back the minister. The administration is reportedly cooling expectations regarding Puente's potential resignation, a move that his own team has already dismissed. The minister is scheduled to address the media on Friday and appear before the Congress's permanent delegation next Tuesday.
The investigation into the accidents is currently proceeding through both administrative channels within the Ministry of Transport and the judicial system. Sánchez confirmed that the entire executive branch remains fully committed to clarifying what happened and preventing future occurrences.
Sources: elDiario.es.