The spokesperson for the Popular Party (PP) in Congress, Ester Muñoz, has stated that the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, must be dismissed or resign before his appearance in the Lower House for the railway accident in Urda, considering that the situation demands immediate political responsibilities because, as she has said, “the country is in shock and wounded”.
In statements to RNE, Muñoz insisted that “Óscar Puente must resign” and maintained that “there is no Spaniard in this country who doesn't think so”, in a message in which she also pointed out that, in relation to her request for resignation, “they make it unnecessary for anyone to say anything”.
Criticism of Pedro Sánchez's Government
The parliamentary spokesperson for the PP also criticized the way Pedro Sánchez's Executive governs, attributing to it “a way of resisting in power and not of managing”. In this context, she linked the absence of General State Budgets (PGE), the act of “insulting everyone arrogantly”, and the replacement of technical profiles with allied individuals, with the consequences that, in her opinion, the Government's actions are having.
Muñoz also asked the President of the Government to “assume responsibilities” and appear at his own request before Congress, in line with the PP's request for Pedro Sánchez to appear before the Permanent Deputation of the Lower House.
Regarding the words of the head of the Executive, who stated that “it is not acceptable” for a country like Spain to have two railway accidents in less than a year, the popular leader replied that Sánchez “says one thing and does the opposite” and added that “it is not consistent to go out to the media and for that to have no consequences”.
Óscar Puente no debería llegar como ministro a la comparecencia del martes en el Congreso. Cualquier persona de este país es plenamente consciente de que si no dimite, debería ser cesado. Esto lo entiende todo el mundo. Pero las responsabilidades van más allá de Puente, Sánchez es quien le nombró, quien le sostiene y el responsable último de la gestión. 🎙️ Entrevista completa en @LasMananas_rne
— ESTER MUÑOZ (@EsterMunoz85) October 30, 2026
Response to Rufián and reproaches for railway management
Muñoz has also criticized the spokesperson for ERC in Congress, Gabriel Rufián, after he accused the PP, "first," for investment cuts and the PSOE, "then," for liberalization, as responsible for the Urda accident. In her opinion, these messages are "miserable" because, she said, "they try to draw" by placing the blame on the PP, a party that, she recalled, has not governed for eight years.
The popular spokesperson had previously stated that the liberalization of railway transport occurred under the socialist government and regretted that the necessary means and resources were not put in place given the increase in train traffic. "If where 10 trains used to circulate, now 50 circulate, you evidently have to put more means and more maintenance resources," she affirmed.
In addition, she criticized the management of the Ministry of Transport, assuring that people were hired "who did not have the necessary qualifications to be in positions of responsibility," "contracts" were rigged, or trains were bought "that did not fit through tunnels." "Now no one can be surprised that we are in the situation we are in," she admitted.
Vox and the death of Fátima Báñez
On the other hand, Ester Muñoz pointed out that Vox is responsible for "what it does or fails to do" in its decision to continue with the 29N electoral pre-campaign after the Urda accident. "They have understood that they must continue working and therefore I do not interfere," she said.
The PP spokesperson also assured that the death of former minister Fátima Báñez has been "a shock" for the party. "We have experienced firsthand probably what many families in this country have experienced. Not knowing, sometimes having hope, has been terrible," she explained.
Regarding Báñez, Muñoz highlighted that she was a "very valuable, brilliant, and conciliatory" woman, as well as a role model for PP women who work in politics and public service.
