The candidate of the Frente Amplio for the Presidency of the Government, Ada Colau, has demanded that the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, give more explanations and "assume his responsibility" for the railway tragedy in Urda, in Toledo. This is requested in the text accompanying a video published this Thursday on Instagram, in which she considers it "absolutely unacceptable" to throw workers "to the wolves."
Colau acknowledges that the human factor may be one of the elements explaining the accident, but demands an investigation into the functioning of the entire security system. "What has failed here is a complex security system," she maintains. In her opinion, attributing what happened to a single person would be unfair and would leave unaddressed the problems that must be corrected to prevent new accidents.
"When something so serious happens, it is essential to assume all responsibilities, be transparent and give all explanations," she states. The leader links this demand with the right of victims to know the truth and the safety of society as a whole. Her request for an appearance seeks for the minister to explain to Congress the information he has about the collision.
Puente announces his appearance and Frente Amplio demands an audit
The message expands on the claim Colau had made in the morning, when she announced that they would ask the minister for explanations before the Permanent Deputation of Congress. Sumar has registered this request at the instance of Frente Amplio, while ERC and Podemos have presented another joint initiative. In the afternoon, Puente's team has communicated that he will request to appear at his own request and will offer a new press conference this Friday morning.
The discussion about the role of the workers comes after the minister's initial explanations. Puente pointed on Wednesday to a breakdown of the LZB, the system that automatically supervises circulation, and the subsequent authorization from Adif's control center in Atocha for the AVE to resume its journey normally despite the Iryo remaining stopped ahead. The causes and definitive responsibilities are still pending investigation.
Frente Amplio also demands an independent audit of the state of the railway network and related services. The Urda accident has left a provisional toll of 69 fatalities and occurs nine months after the Adamuz accident in Córdoba, where 46 people died on January 18. Colau recalls this succession of high-speed tragedies between Madrid and Andalusia to demand that all responsibilities be examined. Both accidents occurred at different points on the same line and their investigations remain open.
Support for victims and suspension of the campaign
The candidate began her speech by extending her condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. She also expressed her recognition to the healthcare professionals and emergency teams who are assisting those affected in particularly difficult circumstances.
Colau highlights the response of those who came to donate blood, volunteered, or shared their cars to help after the accident. In this recognition, she includes the people who have defended the privacy of the victims on social media, debunked hoaxes, and disseminated truthful and verified information.
The leader contrasts that aid with those who try to take advantage of the tragedy to spread "hate speech" or engage in "political opportunism". In the video, she also announces that Frente Amplio will keep all its campaign events suspended until next week to prioritize the victims and their families.
