The Compromís deputy assigned to the Mixed Group of Congress, Águeda Micó, considered this Wednesday that the resignation of the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Óscar Puente, after the train accident in Urda (Toledo), is a “correct and necessary” decision, although she warned that it is “insufficient” given the magnitude of the tragedy, which left at least 69 dead.
For his part, the deputy spokesperson for Sumar in Congress and Compromís deputy, Alberto Ibáñez, defended that Óscar Puente has shown that “not everyone is the same in politics” by taking responsibility and addressing the pain of the victims, “despite not being directly responsible for the accident”.
Criticism of the liberalization of the railway sector
Both parliamentarians made these statements to the media during the event organized in Madrid by the family of Guillem Agulló to make public the letter they delivered to the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and to the Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
Águeda Micó also pointed out that the liberalization of the railway sector, supported by both PP and PSOE through a European directive, has led to “no equalization of safety protocols or modernization of tracks in line with current traffic”. For this reason, she called for strengthening security not only in high-speed rail, but also in Rodalies and medium-distance rail.
Regarding the decision that the First Vice President and Minister of Economy, Carlos Cuerpo, temporarily assume Transport, Micó framed this appointment within the proximity of the general elections on November 29. “It could be Carlos Cuerpo or any other person who would assume responsibility in this short time remaining,” she noted.
Alberto Ibáñez also supported the replacement and considered that it was “normal” for the responsibility to fall on the vice president or the Minister of Industry. However, he insisted that Óscar Puente's resignation should not close the debate on the railway model.
A “change of era” after the US elections
On the other hand, both deputies expressed confidence that the Democratic victory in the legislative elections in the United States would be a “boost” for the Spanish left ahead of the November 29 elections.
Águeda Micó pointed out that the result could serve to stop the right and the far right. “I believe it can be a boost, just as the elections in Serbia have been, just as the elections in Brazil have been,” she asserted.
Alberto Ibáñez, for his part, interpreted Donald Trump's electoral setback as part of a “change of era” and argued that the left should offer more ambitious proposals, instead of merely “warning” about the risks of the far right.
Ibáñez accuses Feijóo of attacking trade union freedom
Finally, the Compromís deputy reiterated his criticism of the statements by the leader of the PP, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, regarding the call for a general strike, and accused him of attacking trade union freedom, democracy, and constitutional consensuses.
“Let them stop putting their dirty hands on the unions in our country,” demanded Ibáñez, who believes that the popular leader is once again questioning trade union freedom.