Spain faces yet another scandal over railway safety. Following the recent tragedy on the tracks in Adamuz, which claimed lives, Madrid Community president Isabel Díaz Ayuso has sharply criticized the central government. She declared that the country is being held hostage by political games, while real infrastructure issues have been neglected for years.
Ayuso did not hold back her emotions. She noted that the railway network, once considered among the world’s best, now inspires anxiety and distrust among passengers. She stressed that after recent accidents, including the one at Gelida station in Barcelona, people now board trains with apprehension, unsure about the condition of the rails and equipment. The Madrid president insists that constant rule changes and a lack of investment in safety are putting citizens’ lives at risk.
Accusations and questions
In her remarks, Ayuso leveled criticism at the government, accusing it of prioritizing political deals with Basque and Catalan nationalists over modernizing the transport system. She recalled incidents where trains could not pass through tunnels due to size mismatches, and pointed out that warnings from experts and train drivers have gone unheeded for years.
Ayuso focused particular attention on Transport Minister Óscar Puente, accusing him of incompetence and a lack of willingness to address industry problems. According to her, the minister is more concerned with his image on social media than with doing his actual job. She openly stated that if such an accident had occurred in the Madrid metro, the consequences for regional authorities would have been far more severe.
Public Outcry
The tragedy in Adamuz was a blow to the entire nation. Ayuso stressed that all Spaniards, regardless of region, share in the pain and mourning. She proposed holding a memorial mass at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid to honor the victims and support their families. In her view, this would symbolize unity and solidarity, rather than serve as yet another occasion for political disputes.
The Madrid president insists that tragedies must not divide the country into 17 autonomous regions as if they were separate states. She believes that only by working together can real change be achieved and trust in the rail system restored.
Demand for Transparency
Ayuso did not limit herself to criticizing transport policy. She also called for clarification regarding the involvement of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in international negotiations related to Catalonia and Venezuela. According to her, the public deserves to know whether he is acting on behalf of Spain and whether he is being compensated for it.
Questions about transparency and accountability are growing louder. Ayuso is convinced that withholding information and trying to hide details only deepens public mistrust in the government. She calls for open dialogue and a thorough investigation into the causes of the incident to prevent such tragedies from happening again.
Political disagreements
In the wake of the tragedy, Ayuso refused to meet with opposition parties, stating that past talks turned into personal insults rather than constructive criticism. She believes that political discourse in Spain is increasingly shifting toward personal attacks instead of addressing real issues.
The President of Madrid insists her work should be judged by results, not political labels. She sharply criticized attempts to exploit tragedies for discrediting opponents and called for respect and responsibility from all participants in the political process.
A challenge for the country
Events of recent days have made it clear: Spain faces a serious challenge. Issues of safety, public trust in the authorities, and social unity are coming to the forefront. Ayuso is demanding change and transparency, but so far the authorities remain silent. Tension is in the air, and society awaits answers that have yet to come.
