Deadly train disaster clouds Spain’s Pedro Sánchez election chances as public anger grows

Crash raises urgent questions

The collision took place on the high-speed line south of Madrid, and reports said dozens of people had died. The government moved quickly to present its account while the formal investigation into the Toledo train disaster was just beginning.

Puente told reporters he was setting out what he called the “objective facts” and responding to criticism. He cited human errors, including a controller’s instruction for a stalled train to restart at up to 160km/h, despite another train being ahead on the line.

Minister rejects calls to leave

Puente said the advancing train was not ordered to stop. He also said a safety system had failed 170 times so far this year, describing that figure as normal and around the European Union average.

Asked whether he would accept personal and political responsibility by resigning, Puente said remaining as minister was his duty. The available account also says he expressed “huge pain and sadness” for victims before defending the government’s handling of the crash.

Earlier crash remains under review

An investigation into January’s crash in Adamuz, near Cordoba, is still underway. Initial reports pointed to a rail crack, a cause described as very different from the latest collision.

Camas warned that such events can erode faith in both rail services and public institutions. The account says people in Spain tend to hold their government responsible when major failures occur.

Political pressure grows

Sánchez was already dealing with anger over alleged corruption involving close relatives, which they deny, and the cost of housing. Protests followed a viral video showing pensioner Maricarmen Abascal being forcibly evicted from the home where she had lived for more than 70 years.

Recent polls put the centre-right PP ahead, with a coalition involving far-right Vox seen as a likely outcome. Sánchez had been seeking to bring apathetic voters to the polls for the socialists, but Simon said the campaign’s agenda and emotional tone had been lost.

Small protests led by far-right groups have taken place in Madrid, with police on standby for possible further clashes organised online. Paloma, speaking at a city station, said the crash would change her vote and that she would move from the left to the right.