Ada Colau has called this Friday for the resignation of the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, due to the train accident in Urda, Toledo, which has left at least 69 dead. The Frente Amplio candidate for the Presidency of the Government explained that her party has conveyed the request to La Moncloa and has demanded a quick political response to the loss of confidence in high-speed rail.
The demand comes after Puente himself ruled out resigning at a press conference held this Friday. The minister assured that he has the confidence of Pedro Sánchez and that his way of assuming responsibility is to "face the music", clarify what happened, and work to restore safety in the railway.
Colau's request increases pressure on the Executive at a particularly delicate moment. Sumar, one of the forces integrated into Frente Amplio, continues to be part of the coalition government with the PSOE, although both parties are running separately in the general elections on November 29.
The former mayor of Barcelona has considered that Puente should leave office due to his "political responsibility" as the head of Transport, although she acknowledged that the minister did not have a direct intervention in the collision. "I will not say whether this resignation should happen today, tomorrow, or the day after, but we believe it should happen as soon as possible," she stated to the media in Barcelona.
La gravedad de los dos accidentes ferroviarios en tan poco tiempo exige una respuesta política.
— Frente Amplio (@Frente_Amplio_) October 30, 2026
La confianza en la alta velocidad se ha quebrado y no podemos mirar hacia otro lado. pic.twitter.com/hAAClUpwPi
Colau recalled that the Urda crash is the second serious accident on the high-speed line between Madrid and Andalusia in less than a year, after the one that occurred in Adamuz, Córdoba, last January, in which 46 people died. In her opinion, the repetition of a tragedy of these dimensions demands a response that goes beyond technical explanations.
To defend her position, the candidate appealed to Sánchez's own words, who acknowledged that confidence in high-speed rail has been broken. Colau believes that Puente's departure is necessary to begin to regain that confidence and for institutions to respond to the seriousness of what happened.
She also questioned the tone of the minister's appearance and insisted that investigations must clarify all factors involved in the accident. This Thursday she already warned that it would be "absolutely unacceptable" to throw workers "to the wolves" and demanded that the functioning of the security system as a whole be examined.
Hay un problema grave y debe haber una respuesta política a la altura de este para poder centrarnos en resolverlo.
— Antonio Maíllo (@MailloAntonio) October 30, 2026
Y está claro que la permanencia de Óscar Puente como ministro dificulta esta resolución.
The position of Colau has received the backing of the federal coordinator of Izquierda Unida, Antonio Maíllo, who has also demanded Puente's resignation or dismissal, considering that his permanence hinders the response to the crisis of confidence in the railway.
President Sánchez maintains his confidence in Puente
Frente Amplio's request contrasts with the president's decision to keep the minister in charge of Transport. Puente offered his resignation to Sánchez after the accident and the president asked him to continue.
The minister confirmed this Friday that he will remain in the position and defended that his obligation is to offer explanations and solutions. "The easy thing for me is to leave, but it's not in my character nor is it what the president has asked me to do," he said during his appearance.
Sánchez, for his part, has acknowledged that confidence in the high-speed system is damaged and has insisted that two accidents of this severity in such a short time are unacceptable. The president has argued that, in addition to investigating what happened, it is necessary to adopt measures to prevent a new tragedy.
The request comes one month before the elections
Colau's demand places Frente Amplio in a different position from the PSOE regarding the continuity of a government minister that both forces share. The coalition she leads thus seeks to establish its own criteria before the electorate less than a month before 29N, on an issue that has acquired great political and social importance.
For now, the public request comes from the candidate and leaders of the electoral coalition. No government breakup or the departure of Sumar ministers has been announced, who continue in their positions alongside those of the PSOE.
Pressure on Puente has also come from other political and trade union spheres. The leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has demanded the resignation of both the minister and Sánchez. Adelante Andalucía called for Puente's resignation on Thursday, while the PNV raised the need to assume maximum political responsibilities and pointed to a possible resignation or dismissal.
The Urda accident occurred on Wednesday, when a Renfe AVE hit an Iryo train from behind that was stopped on the same track. Technical and judicial investigations are still open to determine the sequence of events, the functioning of security systems, and possible responsibilities.
Puente will attend the Permanent Deputation of Congress on Tuesday, November 3, at his own request, to offer explanations about the tragedy. Frente Amplio, ERC, and Podemos had previously requested his appearance.
