Spain’s political scene has come to a standstill following the railway disaster in Adamuz, where the death toll has reached 41. Authorities at both the national and Andalusian levels have temporarily set aside their mutual accusations, showing a rare sense of unity not seen in recent years. Amid a national mourning and widespread shock over the tragedy, routine political battles have given way to careful dialogue and restraint.
On Tuesday, after a Cabinet meeting, representatives of the government and the regional administration once again emphasized their solidarity. At the press conference, not a single harsh word was uttered against the Partido Popular (PP), even though tensions between political forces remain behind the scenes. This time, both sides chose not to escalate the situation, recognizing that the public expects responsibility, not scandal.
Contacts and distrust
On Monday, when PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo stated that his party had not received information from the government, the situation seemed on the verge of spiraling out of control. However, the chief of staff to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Diego Rubio, contacted Feijóo’s colleague, Marta Varela. Official accounts of this conversation differ: government representatives claim they provided all available information and expressed readiness to cooperate, while the PP insists the call was merely to thank Feijóo for his measured tone.
Despite an outward calm, discontent persists within the opposition ranks. Many recall how, during the Angrois tragedy, then-prime minister Mariano Rajoy personally called opposition leaders and visited the scene with the transport minister. Now, according to the PP, neither Sánchez nor the transport minister has shown such initiative. Still, no public accusations have been made—both sides are clearly unwilling to turn the tragedy into yet another political dispute.
Vox under fire
While the government maintains a fragile truce with the PP, the situation with Vox is different. The far-right leader Santiago Abascal launched sharp criticism at the executive branch just hours after the disaster, accusing it of “mafia-like” tactics and being a threat to the state. His remarks drew a strong response from officials.
Minister and government spokesperson Elma Saiz did not hide her emotions, calling Abascal’s behavior “inhumane” and “deplorable.” She said exploiting tragedy and people’s fear to sow chaos is not just unacceptable, but goes against democratic values. She emphasized that most citizens do not support such attempts to manipulate public opinion.
Investigation ongoing
While politicians argue, the investigation into the Adamuz crash is only gaining momentum. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska presented a preliminary report to the Council of Ministers. Experts have yet to reach a consensus: it remains unclear whether a fault in the railway track caused the tragedy, or if it was the train derailment itself that led to the destruction of the line.
Specialists note that the situation is extremely complicated. A broken rail line was found at the scene, but the root cause is still unknown. All scenarios remain under consideration, and authorities have promised a thorough inspection of all trains that previously passed along this route. The minister called for utmost precision and respect for the victims, stressing that premature conclusions are unacceptable.
A fine line
Spain is now waiting for new details from the investigation and hoping for transparency from its politicians. The temporary truce between the government and the opposition seems fragile but necessary. However, underlying tensions persist, and it is possible that once the mourning period ends, passions will flare up again with renewed intensity.
For now, the country’s attention remains focused on Adamuz, where the search and identification of victims continue. The public demands not only answers, but also respect for the memory of those lost. In such an atmosphere, any attempt to use the tragedy for political gain provokes a sharp backlash. Spaniards are tired of scandals and expect maturity and responsibility from their leaders.
