Puente understands the demands for him to resign after the Urda tragedy but remains as minister

There was expectation in this Council of Ministers. It was the first face to face between the two coalition partners after Frente Amplio called for the resignation of Minister Óscar Puente. A cabinet meeting that has addressed the Urda railway tragedy, a collision between two trains that caused the death of 69 people. This same Tuesday, the Frente Amplio candidate, Ada Colau, asked for his departure in an interview with this newspaper. However, the head of Transportation assures that none of Sumar's ministers - all of them have attended except Vice President Yolanda Díaz, traveling in China - have conveyed that demand to his face. "Neither inside nor outside has any of Sumar's colleagues asked me to resign. There have been many displays of affection and affection that I appreciate."

Puente, in addition to the explanations about the measures taken to the Council of Ministers, which affect the protocols between the control center and the train drivers among other issues, faces a tough session in the Permanent Deputation of Congress, in which the solitude of the PSOE will be seen defending its continuity. Some requests that the same minister even shares, but that he will not attend to. "I understand the arguments that are put on the table. I can perfectly understand that Colau says it. I can share it or not," he said at the press conference after the Council of Ministers.

At this time, neither Pedro Sánchez nor he is contemplating his departure from the Executive, nor his resignation as head of the PSOE list for Valladolid. Although no one contemplates, yes, that he does an electoral campaign.

About who Puente says not admitting this demand is on the part of the PP, which he accuses of "double standards" and in relation to statements by some popular leaders, such as the president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, questioning the safety of trains in Spain, he has described them as "absolutely irresponsible, out of place."

The argument is that they consider that Puente's management has had nothing to do with the railway tragedy. "I have not made any decision that has contributed to causing this damage. Nor have I omitted any action that contributed. And when I had to respond I was at my job and I am giving explanations," Puente countered those calling for his resignation. Sources from La Moncloa delve into this thesis and, at least today, maintain that the Minister of Transport "is not going to resign and we are not going to fire him."

Both in Transport and in La Moncloa consider that the debate on the resignation or demand for political responsibilities may be "legitimate", but that given that their analysis is that "there has been no action or omission that caused the accident", the decision, the last word of which goes to Sánchez, is that "he continues to lead the way making decisions that provide solutions." Because within the Government, at least in Puente's portfolio and in the presidential complex, it has been established as a kind of scale to measure whether his exit is proceeding or not: actions that have been carried out, omissions and response to the catastrophe. And in no way do they believe that the minister is designated to leave his post.