The crash could sap Sánchez’s recently resurgent momentum and the issue of rail safety now threatens to overshadow his attempts to defend his record and remain in the Moncloa palace.
Spain continues to investigate the causes of a deadly train crash in Toledo province, which killed 69 people and left many more injured, according to the report. An initial interim report confirms the high-speed Ave train was travelling at between 160 and 200km/h when it collided with the stationary train ahead of it.
Despite a lot of attention on leaked recordings of conversations between the operations centre and drivers affected by a signalling failure in the Urda area, the full investigation is likely to take weeks if not months. The investigators were not able to speak to some of the key witnesses so far, the interim report said.
The effect on Spain’s politics can be more imminent given next month’s parliamentary elections. The crash could sap Sánchez’s recently resurgent momentum and the issue of rail safety now threatens to overshadow his attempts to defend his record and remain in the Moncloa palace.
Meanwhile, protests are planned in France and Italy, with populations continuing to show their frustrations with the state of education, the cost of living and other issues. French interior minister Laurent Nuñez warned of “a very high risk” of violent disorder this weekend, as he blamed “the radicalised far-left” and the Yellow Vest movement for urging more people to attend demonstrations with “quite radical” messages.
In Italy, “massive” students protests are expected in Rome, Milan, the student movement said. The situation in Europe remains volatile, with various countries facing different challenges, from rail safety to economic frustrations.
