The official mourning period for the victims of the Adamuz train disaster has ended, but political tensions continue to escalate. Some parties are struggling to contain their emotions, while others openly express their outrage. From the first moments after the tragedy, Vox representatives directly accused the Pedro Sánchez government of corruption and held it responsible for the deaths. Divisions within the Partido Popular (PP) have become apparent: part of the leadership is reluctant to call for resignations or assign blame, while another faction is pushing for tough action.
Isabel Díaz Ayuso, who leads Madrid, does not support her party colleagues’ cautious approach. She believes there is an unspoken ‘forbidden topic’ in the country, imposed by the Sánchez administration. Speaking on Onda Madrid, Ayuso made an emotional appeal for complete transparency. According to her, the authorities’ silence only deepens public distrust in the system and jeopardizes passenger safety.
Divided voices
While Ayuso demanded openness, other PP representatives remained restrained. On Tele 5, the party’s deputy secretary for infrastructure, Juan Bravo, limited himself to urging Transport Minister Óscar Puente to ensure ‘full transparency’ and avoid sharing partial information that only increases public anxiety. In his view, the minister failed to provide clear answers during his lengthy press conference.
The PP parliamentary group has supported this approach by submitting more than 60 clarifying questions and demanding not only the minister’s appearance in parliament, but also that of Sánchez himself, as well as the heads of Adif and Renfe. However, it seems that Puente is not avoiding public scrutiny: he has already given 15 interviews to various media outlets, held several press conferences, and does not shy away from tough questions. The minister admits that not all questions have clear answers but promises to keep the public informed.
Political disagreements
Old divisions have resurfaced within the PP. Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has chosen not to escalate tensions this time, although in the past, as an opposition figure in Galicia, he often used major tragedies to pressure those in power. Now, he is following the course set by the president of Andalucía, Juan Manuel Moreno: only unity and institutional loyalty can help overcome the consequences of the catastrophe.
Ayuso, on the other hand, believes that calls for consensus merely serve to cover up the truth. She accuses the government and ‘regime-friendly media’ of creating an atmosphere of fear and silence. According to her, passengers cannot be sure trains are safe until the authorities provide a full account of the incident.
Information vacuum
Minister Puente, despite a wave of criticism, continues to engage actively with the press and social media users. Following the accident, he promptly gave several interviews and held a press conference directly from the emergency services hall at Atocha station. On Wednesday, he again faced journalists, answering dozens of questions and admitting that the investigation is still ongoing.
Nevertheless, the opposition insists: until all the details are disclosed, public trust in the authorities will remain undermined. Ayuso continues to demand full transparency, while PP is torn between maintaining political correctness and responding to public demand.
Tensions escalate
The situation around the investigation is becoming increasingly tense. Each new statement from politicians only adds fuel to the fire. Ayuso refuses to back down and continues to accuse the government of trying to cover up inconvenient facts. Her stance resonates with a segment of the public that is weary of official rhetoric and half-truths.
At the same time, Minister Puente is showing a willingness to engage in dialogue, though he is not always able to provide complete answers. Authorities promise not to yield to provocations, yet pressure from the opposition and the media continues to mount. The issue of railway safety and the transparency of the investigation remains unresolved, as the political struggle surrounding the tragedy intensifies.
