Spain's National Audiencia has taken a significant procedural step by processing a complaint against Transport Minister Óscar Puente in relation to the serious railway accident that occurred in Adamuz, Córdoba province, which left 45 dead and nearly 300 injured. The Audiencia is evaluating whether the minister's implication in these proceedings is appropriate, and the role of the Prosecutor's Office will be key in determining whether a formal criminal case is opened.
The accident, which occurred on January 18 on the Madrid-Seville high-speed line, has been described as one of the most serious in recent Spanish railway history. The affected section had been renovated in 2025 with a multi-million state investment, but preliminary investigations, including infrastructure inspections, have not yet definitively determined the cause of the disaster.
Simultaneously with the criminal complaint against Puente, the Spanish government has approved financial support measures for the victims. A €20 million aid fund has been established to provide immediate compensation to the families of the deceased and assistance to the injured to alleviate the economic consequences of the Adamuz and Gelida railway accidents.
Central Court of Instruction No. 6 magistrate Antonio Piña has initiated preliminary proceedings and forwarded the file to the Prosecutor's Office for it to rule on its jurisdiction and report on the possible opening of a criminal investigation against the minister for alleged responsibility in the tragedy. The complaint was filed by the civic association Libertad y Justicia, which believes Puente may have criminal liability for the high-speed train crash in Adamuz, where an Iryo train and a Renfe train collided after one of them derailed on a recently renovated straight section.
The clash between the government and the opposition comes at a time of political polarization in Spain, exacerbated by the symbolic and social impact of the railway tragedy. This new judicial context presents a political challenge for the Spanish Prime Minister, who has so far backed Puente's continuation in office while the facts are clarified, and could face greater internal tensions if the Prosecutor's Office supports the formal opening of a criminal case against the minister over his actions in the Adamuz accident.
"The opposition has focused on what it considers contradictions between the Transport Minister's statements and some media reports on the partial renovation of the affected section. The People's Party has intensified its criticisms, demanding his resignation and pointing to a supposed lack of transparency in the information provided about the state of the tracks and the causes of the accident."
A total of 45 people died and nearly 300 were injured, of whom 122 were hospitalized, including several in critical condition.
