Spanish transport minister resigns after deadly train crash

Spain's transport minister Óscar Puente resigned Tuesday, six days after a high-speed train collision killed 69 people and ahead of the country's November elections.

• Puente announced his resignation in Congress and withdrew his name from the lists for the November 29 elections.
• Last Wednesday a Renfe high-speed train struck a stationary Iryo train near Urda, south of Madrid, killing 69 people.
• Puente said a transport minister cannot remain in office after two accidents of this severity in less than a year, citing a January crash.
• Puente announced a €30m aid package for victims' families and new control-center software requiring a second operator to confirm decisions.
• Puente said no minister could stay after two grave accidents, citing January's Adamuz disaster in Andalusia that killed 46 people.
• Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez praised Puente's dignity, while the opposition Popular Party said the resignation came far too late.
• Puente announced it at the close of a parliamentary committee hearing, after all opposition parties had demanded his resignation, which he and Sánchez repeatedly ruled out.