The president of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, defended this Thursday from Urda (Toledo) that political responsibilities are "exigible" and "indispensable" after the serious railway accident, stressing that one should not wait for the investigation to close in order to assume them. In this context, he pointed to the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, after "more than one hundred dead" in two accidents on the same high-speed corridor, although without going so far as to directly call for his resignation.
"I have said that political responsibilities cannot be waited for in an investigation, whether administrative or judicial. Political responsibilities are not optional, they are exigible, ethically and morally," he asserted, also recalling the Government's action after the Adamuz (Córdoba) accident last January or the April 2025 blackout.
Feijóo made these statements in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento in Urda, after visiting together with the president of the PP of Castilla-La Mancha, Paco Núñez, the advanced command post deployed by the railway accident. There he held a conversation with the Castilian-Manchegan president, Emiliano García-Page.
"More than one hundred dead" and doubts about the railway system
After appealing to "a cool head" and "respect" in these days of mourning, in which the victims are still being buried, Feijóo stressed that "more than 100 dead" in two high-speed train accidents in nine months and on the same corridor "entails a questioning of our current railway system".
In his speech he emphasized that "Spaniards need answers" and wonder "what is going on" with high speed in Spain. "This cannot continue like this. With this way of managing, one cannot go on," he stressed.
In reference to Puente's words on Wednesday, when he pointed to a possible human error, Feijóo censured the minister for limiting himself to "blaming an Atocha operator" in his first appearance after the train crash, considering that what happened cannot be resolved with that "frivolity".
"What happened yesterday cannot be concluded simply with that frivolity that, in my opinion, is unbecoming of a minister and of a Government," the PP leader emphasized, insisting that this is the second accident so far this year on the same railway corridor.
Criticism of the Government's appointments and of Puente's role
Feijóo has once again pointed to the Minister of Transport after the tragedy of Urda by stating that "politics is not about disqualifying" but about "doing." In his view, "to hold a political office, and much more so if it has a technical component, three things are needed: experience, management, and rigor."
Along these lines, he has maintained that positions should fall to people with "traceability" and "experience." "I will always ask for experience, experience and experience, management, management and management, and rigor, rigor and rigor," he stressed.
When asked whether Puente should leave office and whether he is fit to continue at the head of the ministry, the leader of the opposition has avoided expressly calling for his resignation, as the PP has done on other occasions. Nevertheless, he has reiterated that "political responsibilities cannot be assumed once an investigation has concluded" but rather that "they are essential."
According to Feijóo, the Government's refusal to assume political responsibilities is "perfectly foreseeable," alluding to previous episodes. Even so, he has pointed out that the public "has already made a decision regarding the railway management of the Government of Spain."
After Pedro Sánchez has stated that two tragedies in one year are unacceptable, Feijóo has asked whether the president believes that reflection is enough and whether it really reassures the population. "Are you consistent with that diagnosis? Have you been consistent during these years? All those questions, the majority of Spanish citizens have already answered them," he has pointed out.
No calls from the Government and commitment to the railway system
The PP candidate for La Moncloa has committed to restoring "confidence in the Spanish railway system, because it had it for a long time and it makes no sense that in recent years it has lost it." In his view, in addition to a "cool head" and "respect," "memory" is also needed.
Feijóo has added that "no one" from the Government has contacted him after the accident, although he has highlighted that this Thursday in Urda he was received "cordially" by the president of Castilla-La Mancha, who passed on the latest available information to him.
The Popular Party leader has indicated that in the meeting held at the advanced command post because of the railway accident were also present the Government delegate in Castilla-La Mancha and the director of Civil Protection. "The one who informed me was President Emiliano García Page," he reiterated.
Pride in Spain's response and victim count
Feijóo has underlined that now is the time to pay tribute to the victims and to feel proud to belong to Spain, after verifying the wave of solidarity that has come from all parts of the country and the exemplary work of the public services and the Forces and Security Corps.
"I feel very proud to be Spanish", he proclaimed, highlighting that this Wednesday, after the accident, he has seen "the best Spain" with a people fully committed and emergency, health, and security forces with "enormous professionalism".
The mayor of Urda, Manuel Galán (PP), has thanked Feijóo for his presence at the scene of the accident and for having recognized the residents of the municipality for "all the dedication" shown this Wednesday. In turn, the mayor has wanted to personally thank his town for "that dedication" and the support they provided to the affected people.
At this moment, the number of fatalities in the Urda train accident rises to 69, according to what the president of Castilla-La Mancha has reported after the meeting of the Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi), in which he was together with the president of the Government. As for the injured, of the 110 hospitalized on Wednesday, 60 have already been given medical discharge.