Resolution criteria

This market resolves YES if Transport Minister Óscar Puente formally resigns from his position before the market close date. Resignation must be publicly announced by Puente or confirmed by official Spanish government sources. The resignation must occur after the fatal train accidents that began on January 18, 2026. Resolution will be verified through official Spanish government announcements or major news outlets reporting the resignation.

Background

On January 18, 2026, a high-speed passenger train derailed in Adamuz, Córdoba, killing 45 people and injuring 292 others. Two days later, a commuter train hit a collapsed wall near Barcelona, killing the driver and injuring 37 others, believed caused in part by heavy rainfall. In response, Spanish trade union SEMAF called for a three-day strike in February 2026.

The opposition Popular Party has accused Puente of repeatedly lying about the state of the high-speed rail line, noting that improvement works were limited to track switches rather than the rails where trains derailed. The Popular Party's general secretary has called for Puente's "immediate resignation." However, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez defended Puente, stating he "has been managing and facing the public from the very first moment of this tragedy."

Considerations

The train drivers' union SEMAF warned railway operator ADIF in August 2025 of heavy wear and tear on tracks, including where the derailments happened, but allegedly no action was taken despite the warnings. Preliminary investigations point to a faulty rail weld, with a 40-centimetre break in a rail as the focus of investigation.