Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez defended the country’s rail safety on Wednesday, following two deadly train incidents in January that claimed 47 lives.
Speaking before parliament, Sánchez vowed that justice would be done and insisted that the nation’s rail system “is not perfect, but it is safe.”
The first tragedy occurred on January 18th in Andalusia, where a collision between two high-speed trains killed 46 people, making it one of the deadliest rail disasters in Europe this century. Two days later, a commuter train in the Barcelona region struck the rubble of a collapsed wall, killing the driver and injuring dozens more.
Sánchez said, “The entire state is doing—and will continue to do—everything possible to support the injured and the victims’ families, clarify the causes of the accident, and, if necessary, ensure justice is done.”
Opposition leaders sharply criticized the Socialist government. Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of center-right Partido Popular, accused Sánchez of “continued negligence resulting in death” and stated that “your government will sit on the bench for this.”
Santiago Abascal, leader of national conservative VOX, said, “Adamuz was not an accident, it was a crime”, warning that the government should be held accountable in court. Abascal further criticized the government for reducing train speeds on many sections and failing to execute European funds to improve safety.
