Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned following a deadly high-speed train collision south of Madrid that killed 69 people. The disaster is one of the worst railway accidents in Europe this century and the second high-speed rail accident in less than a year. Despite previously refusing to step down, Puente announced his resignation late Tuesday amid growing political pressure.
In addition to his resignation, Puente is withdrawing from the upcoming general election on November 29. This development comes as Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez trails in the polls. The government is currently preparing an emergency aid package for the victims and their families.
Prior to resigning, Puente faced questions from lawmakers regarding his handling of the crash and revealed that a high-speed train was allowed to continue running at over 160 km/h after its safety system failed. He announced new safety measures, including improvements in control centers and a faster rollout of the European Rail Traffic Management System, as rail workers threaten to strike.