The Frente Amplio candidate for the 29N elections, Ada Colau, has described as "absolutely unacceptable" that workers be put "to the feet of the horses" over the Urda rail accident, calling on the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, to appear in Congress so that he can "give more explanations and assume his responsibility".
In a video released on social media, Colau has asked that the minister voluntarily attend the Permanent Deputation of Congress, after her candidacy demanded that political responsibilities be established and an audit be carried out on the state of the railway network after this incident, which is added to the one that occurred in Adamuz (Córdoba) on January 18.
After the minister's intervention this Wednesday, the Frente Amplio leader has underlined that the "human factor may be one of the elements that explains what happened" in this tragic event, but has wanted to be "clear" in stressing that "what has failed here is a complex security system".
Not to place all the blame on one person
"It would be absolutely unacceptable for the workers to be thrown to the feet of the horses. Attributing this terrible failure to a single person would not only be unfair, but would serve neither to solve the problems nor, even less, to prevent them", the candidate for the Presidency of the Government in the 29N elections has stressed.
She has stressed that this is the second "fatal" accident recorded this year in the high-speed service between Madrid and Andalucía and that, when "something so serious" happens, "it is essential to assume all responsibilities, be transparent and give all the explanations".
According to what she has said, "it is a right of the victims, but also a condition of safety for society as a whole", which is why they insist that Puente go to Congress "so that he can give more explanations and assume his responsibility".
Colau has reiterated her "condolences" and "all her affection" to the loved ones and family members of the people who died in this "terrible accident", and has wished a speedy recovery to the injured, also extending her recognition to the healthcare and emergency professionals who intervened.
Social support against the discourses of "hatred"
The candidate has also highlighted the multiple displays of solidarity from thousands of citizens who "volunteered, went to donate blood, shared their cars or on social media were defending the victims' right to privacy, dismantling rumors and offering only beneficial information".
In her view, these attitudes show that "the best thing about this country is a civil society that always knows how to rise to the occasion" in the face of those who "want to take advantage of those tragedies to spread hate speech or engage in political opportunism".
Colau concluded that "we must focus on support for the victims and, among everyone, work with all firmness and all care so that such terrible events do not happen again".