Maybe, in the end, it's just consistency. If one understands that his resignation is demanded externally and internally, it is even something that is shared, the logical thing is to resign. Maybe. And in the end, despite the "absolute support" of Pedro Sánchez, Óscar Puente decided to resign. His departure had been rejected by La Moncloa hours before, although he was no longer as categorical as in previous days. "The Minister of Transport of a country like Spain cannot continue in his position with two accidents of this severity in less than a year, no matter how different they are and whether or not he has direct responsibility for them," was the live farewell that set off alarms, which surprised the presidential complex and Ferraz. The former minister was messaging from his cell phone moments before. He informed Sánchez only a few minutes before his thoughtful words, without knowing how the head of the Executive would react, according to both parties.
"I had no other option," says a member of the Government. “Well done,” notes a prominent official. "The best option." From the first moment, its continuity or not generated division in the Government and the PSOE. "In the end, the political, even technical, and lack of resources responsibility is always the one in charge," reflects a senior socialist government official.
Puente, since Wednesday morning, had placed his position at the disposal of the President of the Government. His impulse, in those first moments, when he learned of the tragedy and went to the Adif control center in Atocha, was to resign. He spoke with his family. Those who know him explain that they saw him "very touched." But Sánchez's conversation and closing ranks made him remain in office, at least until he gave explanations and put together the first measures to "regain confidence" in high speed and articulate aid to the victims. The Chief Executive stated that resigning would be admitting guilt in what happened and that leaving was "unfair" because his management had not caused the railway tragedy.
Both maintain a close relationship, Puente was one of his squires, a select member of his trusted hard core. Many in the Government jumped when they saw on their cell phones that their colleague took a step to the side. Even Sánchez himself when he saw Puente's messages. The President of the Government caught offside. "It is a question of political dignity, coherence and empathy with the victims," defended the former minister.
The truth is that this week, the internal pressure for Puente to resign had been increasing. There were many voices in the PSOE, and also some in the Government, who considered his departure inevitable, that a "gesture" was necessary in the face of a new railway tragedy that claimed the lives of 69 people, just nine months after Adamuz, where 46 people died. "The campaign is not going to change, but it was a question of empathy," summarizes an institutional position. "It was amortized," say socialist sources. «Nothing else was understood. Guilty or not, we have to take responsibility for the things that happen. "It is important that the causes of the accident be investigated and clarified, measures be taken to ensure that this does not happen again, and the responsibilities arising from the investigations are assumed," reflects a provincial general secretary.
Sánchez's support for Puente granted him a "protective shield" in the face of the crisis caused by the Urda train accident. Now, once the head of Transport makes a "decision of political dignity", he leaves the President of the Government without that protection against criticism. The risk is now that the demands point towards La Moncloa. "One month before the elections, it is a hole that is difficult to cover," say those who saw its continuity as logical. There are actually 26 days left until the elections. Also through a weekend of surveys, also in La Moncloa - with constant tracking and qualitative surveys - where a significant decline in the PSOE was perceived.
Sánchez is also orphaned by one of the politicians with the most traction among the socialist militancy, because he also renounces being the head of the list for Valladolid. In six months, the socialist candidate has lost two "pillars for the bases" such as José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, investigated by Justice, and Puente.
But his departure gives the socialists the opportunity to counteract the PP's strategy of weighing down the Government due to the accident and the lack of assumption of responsibilities. Now they see the opportunity to point out, as Puente himself did: "It is not true that all politicians are the same." As happened with the resignation of Montse Mínguez, spokesperson for the PSOE, contrast that they do step aside even if they are not directly guilty. «Óscar Puente has stood up, he has given solutions and, then, he has taken a step aside. For dignity. Of his own free will. Out of respect for the victims and the progressive project. Politicians like him dignify our country and show us that we are not all the same," Sánchez said on his social networks. The objective is to turn the situation around, despite the fact that until now it was thought that resigning was assuming guilt.
In fact, sources from La Moncloa highlighted that Puente “has managed the most difficult moments of the emergency and implemented the necessary measures to stop them and assist the victims. He then resigned from his position of his own free will. "It thus demonstrates that not all politicians nor all parties are equal."
Puente's departure forces Sánchez to carry out a government crisis in the middle of the pre-campaign, but he will remain minister until his resignation is published in the BOE.
