Spanish transport minister resigns following deadly train crashes

Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente resigned on Tuesday night after facing a tense four-hour grilling by a caretaker parliament body. The resignation follows two major rail disasters in Spain this year, which resulted in a combined total of 115 deaths. The most recent accident occurred in the central region of Urda six days prior to his announcement. While Puente had initially vowed to remain in office to oversee investigations and system reforms, he revealed that he had privately decided to step down immediately following the latest tragedy.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has appointed Deputy Carlos Cuerpo, who also serves as the economy minister, to lead the Transport Ministry on a provisional basis. Sanchez commended Puente for his political dignity, asserting that the resignation is intended to restore public confidence in the national rail infrastructure. As the ruling Socialist party navigates an ongoing election campaign, political analysts suggest that Puente's departure effectively neutralizes a major line of attack for the opposition People's Party (PP). The resignation will become officially effective once it is published in the state gazette.