The Government rules out Óscar Puente's departure from the Ministry of Transport after the railway accident in Urda (Toledo). Sources from the Executive assure that the minister will not resign, that Pedro Sánchez will not dismiss him, and that he will keep his position as number one for the PSOE in Valladolid in the elections of November 29, according to EFE.
The support extends to the leadership of Adif: lthe same sources reject that the dismissal of its president is on the table. The Government's position is to keep the current officials to manage the actions following the accident and restore confidence in high-speed rail.
The clarification comes after Puente's intervention this Tuesday in the press conference following the Council of Ministers. The Minister of Transport has distinguished between the resignation requests of Ada Colau, head of the Frente Amplio list, and those formulated by the PP and its president, Alberto Núñez Feijóo.
The Government rules out that Puente is preparing his resignation
Puente has stated that he can understand that people like Colau call for his departure, although he has rejected the demands of the PP. Government sources later specified that those words should not be interpreted as a sign that the minister is considering leaving office.
According to his explanation, neither of the two avenues for his departure is foreseen: neither a resignation by Puente himself nor a dismissal by decision of the President of the Government.
The Executive maintains that the minister's responsibility at this time consists in directing the response to the accident, providing information about what happened, and adopting the necessary measures to strengthen travelers' confidence. The sources consulted by EFE maintain that Puente is the one best able to assume that task.
He will maintain the number one position for the PSOE in Valladolid
The continuity of the minister also extends to his candidacy for the general elections. The Government rules out that he will renounce leading the Socialist list for Valladolid next November 29 and assures that that decision is not in question.
His remaining in the candidacy does not specify, however, what participation he will have in the campaign. Asked about that possibility, government sources indicate that his current priority is to continue leading the actions required by the Urda accident.
The Executive thus separates the confirmation of his position on the lists from the electoral activity that he may carry out during the next few weeks. For now, it places his work in the management of the Ministry and in the response to the accident.
Moncloa defends his continuity and keeps the president of Adif
The Government argues that Puente had no responsibility in the accident by action or by omission. This is the position conveyed by sources in the Executive to justify his continuity at the head of Transportes.
With that criterion, they reject that the response should involve replacing the minister. They defend that citizens expect their public officials to take charge of the problems and adopt decisions to solve them.
The same support extends to the president of Adif, whose dismissal is also not contemplated, according to those sources.
Security measures without waiting for the electoral result
Puente announced this Tuesday measures to strengthen the safety of high speed. A good part of their application would be left until after the elections, when the composition of the next Government will depend on the result of 29N.
In view of that circumstance, the Executive defends that decisions must be adopted now. The sources maintain that the objective is to recover confidence in the railway system and that the obligation to respond to citizens cannot remain pending on the electoral calendar.