AGP Executive Report

Rail Crisis: Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned after two deadly train disasters, including a crash that killed 69 people. Sánchez has reshuffled the cabinet and named a temporary replacement as rail safety and government accountability come under scrutiny ahead of the 29 November election. Campaign Battle: The PP leads PSOE and Vox in a new ranking of political teams’ social-media influence, as parties ramp up their online campaigns. Summit Tensions: At the Madrid Ibero-American Summit, Sánchez backed Ukraine’s EU accession, while Argentina’s Javier Milei equated socialism with fascism after a frosty greeting with the Spanish premier. Navarre Politics: María Chivite defended her budget pact with EH Bildu, saying it secures institutional stability.

Ibero-American Summit: Madrid opened the 30th summit as Spain mourned 69 victims of the train disaster. Only 10 of the 22 member countries sent their leaders, underscoring divisions ahead of Spain’s 29 November election; Volodymyr Zelensky also travelled to meet Pedro Sánchez. Rail Crisis: Transport Minister Óscar Puente resigned after two deadly rail crashes in a year. Sánchez reshuffled the cabinet and named a temporary successor, while PP and Vox said resignation alone was not enough. The government approved €30 million in aid and announced tighter safety measures as pressure mounts for accountability and the restoration of public trust. Election Campaign: Sánchez cast Democrats’ US midterm victory as a sign the far-right wave is receding, saying the same shift will reach Spain. Argentina’s Javier Milei met Vox leader Santiago Abascal in Madrid and voiced support ahead of the Spanish vote.

Rail Crisis: Transport Minister Óscar Puente has resigned after two fatal train disasters this year, including the Urda crash that killed 69. Deputy Prime Minister Carlos Cuerpo will temporarily take over the ministry. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says the change should help restore confidence, but safety failures and the government’s response remain under scrutiny. Election Fallout: The PP calls Puente’s departure an electoral calculation and says it comes too late; the Nov. 29 campaign is now focused on accountability and rail safety. A poll taken before the crash put the PP just 0.7 points ahead of the PSOE, with Vox at 20.8%. Diplomacy: Madrid is hosting the Ibero-American Summit, where Sánchez is expected to meet Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss air defence and closer cooperation. Public Finances: Spain’s fiscal watchdog raised its growth forecasts but warned the government risks missing its EU-agreed spending plan.

Rail Accountability: Transport Minister Óscar Puente resigned on Tuesday, six days after a high-speed train crash in Urda killed 69 people. He also withdrew from the PSOE’s candidate list for the November 29 election, saying a minister could not remain in office after two severe rail accidents in less than a year; January’s crash killed 46. Political Fallout: The resignation follows opposition demands and intensifies pressure on Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, whose party is trailing in polls. The PP and Vox say Puente’s departure is not enough. Safety Scrutiny: Investigators are examining failures in signalling and rail operations. European precedents caution against blaming only human error, stressing scrutiny of safety systems and oversight. The government has approved emergency aid for victims and pledged measures to restore trust in rail travel.

Rail Disaster: The government approved €30 million in aid for victims of the Urda crash, which killed 69 people, and announced tighter safety procedures, including fewer Madrid–Seville services and a second controller’s approval when automatic systems are down. Transport Minister Óscar Puente faces mounting pressure as the tragedy shadows the November 29 election. Housing Crisis: Police cleared Madrid’s month-long Puerta del Sol protest camp, removing 334 people and arresting two; organisers alleged injuries, while city officials said the eviction was peaceful. Housing remains a campaign issue, with Vox proposing priority for Spaniards in access to social housing. Ibero-American Summit: Madrid hosts regional leaders on November 4–5, less than four weeks before the election. Pedro Sánchez and Argentina’s Javier Milei are set to attend amid strained relations and hopes of reviving the summit’s influence.

Rail Disaster: Authorities have identified all 69 victims of last week’s Urda train collision; 29 injured people remain hospitalized. The crash has intensified scrutiny of rail safety and put Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government under pressure ahead of the Nov. 29 election. Political Fallout: Transport Minister Óscar Puente faces a grilling in Congress, where the PP, Vox, Junts and PNV are expected to demand his resignation. Sánchez has pledged to restore confidence in high-speed rail, while recent polling shows the Socialists trailing the PP. Migration: Spain has returned 16 asylum seekers from Ceuta to Morocco, prompting rights groups to question whether their safety is protected.

Rail Response: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says his cabinet will approve faster compensation for victims of the Urda train crash, doubling mandatory payouts and providing support for families. He has promised a transparent investigation and vowed to restore trust in high-speed rail after 69 people died. Election Fallout: The first poll conducted entirely after the disaster puts the PSOE at 24.6%, behind the PP at 31.1%; Vox stands at 19.3%. The survey points to a possible PP–Vox majority ahead of the November 29 election. Safety Scrutiny: Investigators are examining failures in the train-protection system and the decisions made after it went offline. The crash has intensified questions over rail oversight and government accountability. Migration: Seven people died while more than 380 migrants were rescued off the Canary Islands on Monday. Regional president Fernando Clavijo warned that the Atlantic route is again claiming lives.

Rail Disaster Fallout: The government plans to approve financial aid for victims of the Urda crash on Tuesday, alongside a report from Transport Minister Óscar Puente. Investigators say a computer failure stopped trains and a control centre then cleared a train to depart despite a red signal; 69 people died. Political Accountability: The opposition Popular Party will join the judicial case, demanding a full inquiry and saying the disaster cannot be explained as a simple accident. Puente has rejected calls to resign, while railway safety dominates the campaign ahead of the November 29 election. Election Picture: A Sondaxe poll puts the PP 2.3 points ahead of the PSOE, with Vox at 19.2%, but its fieldwork ended on the day of the crash and does not capture any political fallout. Campaign Alliances: Chilean President José Antonio Kast begins his Spain visit with meetings planned with Vox leader Santiago Abascal and PP leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo.

Election Race: A Sondaxe poll puts the PP at 29.2%, PSOE at 26.9% and Vox at 19.2% ahead of the November 29 election. But its fieldwork ended on the day of the Urda crash, so it does not capture any fallout. A separate Vox-commissioned poll, also conducted before the disaster, has the PSOE narrowly ahead but the right bloc holding a parliamentary majority. Andalusian Lists: Frente Amplio has named Enrique Santiago and sitting MP Engracia Rivera to lead its Seville congressional slate. Rail Disaster Fallout: The death toll from the Urda collision stands at 69. Investigators cite four system failures, while scrutiny focuses on traffic-control decisions before the crash. The government plans to approve aid for victims and families on Tuesday, with payments still to be set. The PP and Vox say they will join the court case seeking accountability; Transport Minister Óscar Puente has rejected calls to resign.

Rail Safety and Political Fallout: Spain’s Urda train disaster, which killed 69 people, is under investigation after an initial report cited failures in safety, communications and electrical systems. Transport Minister Óscar Puente says he will stay in office, while Vox demands political accountability and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces growing scrutiny ahead of the November 29 election. Digital Policy: Ahead of the vote, industry group DigitalES is urging the next government to adopt a funded Digital Agenda 2030, with priorities including infrastructure, innovation, talent and fewer regulatory hurdles.

Rail Disaster: Investigators say as many as four systems failed before the Urda collision that killed 69 people. Transport Minister Óscar Puente says controllers wrongly cleared a train to move despite a stationary train ahead; he has ruled out resigning. Unions and opposition parties argue the inquiry must examine wider safety and staffing failures. Election Fallout: With Spain’s November 29 election approaching, an early GAD3 assessment suggests the crash has weakened PSOE prospects and could benefit the PP and Vox, though no new public poll has confirmed the shift. Vox is demanding political and possible criminal accountability. Cost of Living: Inflation held at 4.9% in October, its highest level since February 2023, keeping household costs in focus despite 0.6% third-quarter growth. Election Preparations: Municipalities have begun selecting nearly 550,000 people to staff polling stations.

Rail Safety: Spain’s deadly Urda collision, which killed 69 people, has intensified scrutiny of the high-speed network after a second fatal crash this year. Leaked recordings appear to show controllers telling a train to resume while another remained stalled; investigators are examining the signaling system and control-centre decisions. Unions also cite understaffing and worsening working conditions. Political Accountability: Transport Minister Óscar Puente has rejected calls to resign, saying his priority is to resolve the crisis and establish what happened. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez says public trust in high-speed rail has been broken and has promised answers. Election Pressure: The crash has disrupted the snap-election campaign and put rail safety and the government’s handling of public services at its centre, adding to the pressure on Sánchez’s bid for re-election.

Rail Disaster and Accountability: Spain’s second deadly high-speed crash this year has become a major test for Pedro Sánchez’s government ahead of the November 29 election. At least 69 people died near Urda; investigators are examining a signalling failure and control-room instructions, including an order for a train to resume normal speed. Political Fallout: Transport Minister Óscar Puente rejected calls to resign, saying his focus is establishing what happened and restoring public trust. The People’s Party demanded his immediate departure, while rail workers struck over safety and unions called for stronger protections. Sánchez said the state was working to identify victims and promised measures to strengthen the network. Migration Policy: Spain’s return of asylum-seekers from Ceuta to Morocco drew criticism from rights groups, while a judge sought the declassification of intelligence reports related to the crisis.

Rail Disaster: The death toll from Wednesday’s high-speed collision near Urda stands at 69 after officials corrected an earlier higher figure. Investigators are examining a failed train-protection system and a control-centre order to resume traffic; unions warn that staffing and working conditions may also have contributed. Political Fallout: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has promised a full inquiry and stronger safety measures, but protests are demanding resignations and the crash has intensified scrutiny of Transport Minister Óscar Puente. With the Nov. 29 election weeks away, the disaster has upended the campaign. King Felipe VI visited injured passengers and called for measures to prevent another tragedy. ECB Succession: Sánchez is backing former Bank of Spain governor Pablo Hernández de Cos to lead the European Central Bank after Christine Lagarde announced she will leave early; opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo has also endorsed him.

Rail Disaster Probe: The death toll from Wednesday’s high-speed train collision in Toledo has risen to 69. Investigators are scrutinising control-centre staff after recordings appeared to show a Renfe train cleared to move despite a stalled train ahead and a signalling failure. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has promised a full inquiry and stronger safety measures. Political Fallout: The second deadly rail disaster this year has put transport minister Óscar Puente under pressure, with unions demanding his resignation and protests outside the ministry. The crisis has upended Sánchez’s campaign ahead of the November 29 election, as critics question railway maintenance and government accountability. National Mourning: Spain has begun three days of mourning. Former employment minister Fátima Báñez was among those killed; King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited injured passengers in Toledo.

Rail Disaster: At least 68 people were killed when a Renfe train struck a stationary Iryo train near Urda, Toledo, in Spain’s second deadly high-speed rail crash this year. Investigators are examining a signaling-system failure and why controllers reportedly cleared a train to proceed despite a red signal; the cause has not been established. Government Under Pressure: Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning and promised a full inquiry and action if negligence is found. Opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo called for an independent investigation, while rail union CSIF demanded Transport Minister Óscar Puente’s resignation. The disaster has put rail safety and government accountability in focus just weeks before the November 29 election.