Spain’s transport minister, Óscar Puente, resigned after a collision south of Madrid that killed at least 69 people and injured dozens. He was referring to a January crash on the same line that left 46 people dead. His position came under scrutiny immediately after the 28 October crash.
Last week’s crash was Spain’s worst rail disaster since 2013 and among the deadliest in Europe in recent decades.
The opposition also criticised him for appearing to blame human error, saying he was trying to deflect attention from his own failings.
The main opposition, the conservative People’s Party and the far-right Vox, called for his resignation, as did some of the government’s allies.
The prime minister praised him for having faced the situation, provided answers and solutions, and then stepped aside.
Puente said a transport minister in Spain could not remain in office after two accidents of that seriousness in less than a year. Puente said he was not only stepping down as minister of transport but withdrawing his name from the lists for early legislative elections. Having said days earlier that he would stay, the resignation took many by surprise.