Gabriel Rufian Praises Óscar Puente After Transport Minister's Resignation
Gabriel Rufian Praises Óscar Puente After Transport Minister's Resignation
Gabriel Rufian, the ERC spokesperson in the Congress of Deputies, approached Óscar Puente immediately after the latter announced his resignation. Rufian praised Puente's tenure as a "great minister" and shook his hand, following Puente's decision to step down due to two severe railway accidents within a year.
Gabriel Rufian, the spokesperson for the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) in the Spanish Congress of Deputies, publicly commended Óscar Puente as a "great minister" immediately after the Transport Minister announced his resignation. The interaction occurred at the conclusion of a parliamentary session before the Standing Committee, where Puente had addressed the recent Urda train disaster in Toledo that killed at least 69 people.
During the session, Rufian had questioned left-wing groups, including the ruling Socialist Party (PSOE), regarding political accountability for the tragedy. He asked what demands would be made if a Popular Party minister were responsible, highlighting the need for accountability without explicitly calling for Puente's dismissal at that time.
Puente announced his decision to leave the Ministry of Transport after the session concluded. He cited two severe railway accidents within less than a year as the reason for his departure, stating that a transport minister cannot remain in office under such circumstances. He described his resignation as a matter of "political dignity, coherence, and empathy with the victims." The encounter between Rufian and Puente ended with a handshake.
(T.Byrne--TPT)
