Politics · Spain · 1 hr ago
Óscar Puente becomes third Socialist minister to resign under Sánchez
Óscar Puente resigned as Spain’s transport minister after a train accident in the province of Toledo.
His departure brings to three the Socialist ministers who have resigned under Pedro Sánchez since he became prime minister in 2018.
The two earlier resignations were Culture Minister Màxim Huerta and Health Minister Carmen Montón, both in 2018.
Huerta left after it emerged that he had been sanctioned for unpaid taxes, while Montón resigned after questions were raised about her university master’s degree.
Other ministerial departures under Sánchez followed government reshuffles, or occurred when ministers left for elections or other roles.
The account gives no further details about what happens next after Puente’s resignation.
Óscar Puente resigned as Spain’s transport minister on 3 November after a deadly railway accident.
He also gave up his role as the PSOE’s candidate for Valladolid in the general election.
The Popular Party said his resignation was not enough and called on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to accept responsibility.
Sánchez praised Puente, saying he had faced the crisis and stepped aside voluntarily.
Puente is the third Socialist minister to resign from a Sánchez government, after Màxim Huerta and Carmen Montón.
- Who
- Óscar Puente, Spain’s transport minister and the PSOE’s candidate for Valladolid.
- What
- He resigned as minister and gave up his candidacy.
- When
- 3 November 2026.
- Where
- He announced his decision during a session of the Diputación Permanente; the accident was in Toledo province.
- Why
- His resignation followed a deadly railway accident. The sources report differing death tolls.
Popular Party
Sánchez and the government
Responsibility
Popular Party
The PP says Sánchez remains responsible for appointing transport ministers and should not hide behind Puente.
Sánchez and the government
Sánchez praised Puente for facing the crisis, providing solutions and stepping aside voluntarily.
Meaning of resignation
Popular Party
The PP says Puente resigned because of opinion polls, not for the victims or out of dignity, and that his departure is not enough.
Sánchez and the government
Sánchez described Puente’s decision as voluntary and an act of respect for the victims and the government’s project.
Màxim Huerta resigned as culture and sport minister, about a week after his appointment.
Carmen Montón resigned as health minister after allegations of irregularities in her master’s degree.
A railway accident in Toledo province killed people; the reported death toll differs between the sources.
Puente announced his resignation as transport minister and withdrew as the PSOE’s candidate for Valladolid.
- Resignation date
- 3 November 2026
- Ministerial post
- Transport
- Election candidacy
- PSOE candidate for Valladolid
- Earlier Socialist ministers to resign
- Màxim Huerta and Carmen Montón
- Reported death tolls
- 69 in El Confidencial; 116 in El País
- General election date cited by the PP
- 29 November
6 sources
Óscar Puente se deja caer
Sánchez reivindica la dimisión de Puente tras “dar la cara”: “Demuestra que no todos somos iguales”
Sánchez elogia a Puente por "dar la cara" tras el anuncio de dimisión: "Políticos como él dignifican nuestro país"
El tercer ministro socialista que dimite con Sánchez, tras Huerta y Montón
What people are saying
Óscar Puente ha dado la cara, ha dado soluciones y, después, ha dado un paso al lado. Por dignidad. Por voluntad propia. Por respeto a las víctimas y al proyecto progresista.
No ha dimitido él, le ha dimitido Tezanos. No se va por las víctimas ni por dignidad, sino por las encuestas.
La dimisión de Puente era imprescindible, pero no suficiente.
Posts on X
Óscar Puente ha dado la cara, ha dado soluciones y, después, ha dado un paso al lado. Por dignidad. Por voluntad propia. Por respeto a las víctimas y al proyecto progresista. Políticos como él dignifican a nuestro país y nos demuestran que no todos somos iguales. Mientras unos
116 vidas tarde. El responsable de que nuestro sistema ferroviario haya estado en manos de Ábalos y Puente, sigue en su puesto. El 29N tenemos la obligación moral de sacar a Sánchez del Gobierno para poder reconstruir España.
Ábalos, Koldo, el fiscal general, Cerdán, los delegados del Gobierno de Ceuta y Madrid, Zapatero, Paco Salazar, Montse Minguez, su mujer y su hermano…. ¡Y ahora Oscar Puente! Sánchez siempre se esconde detrás de sus esbirros. Pero la responsabilidad es suya. Es el capo de la