Key facts
- Sánchez said Cuerpo, also first deputy prime minister, had shown huge management skills in the current legislature.
- Puente called his resignation a matter of political dignity after the Toledo crash killed 69 people.
- Sánchez said Puente's resignation was helping Spain regain confidence in its railway system and in political dignity.
- The October 28 crash was Spain's second deadly rail disaster of the year, after a January accident in Adamuz that killed 46 people.
- Cuerpo previously served as secretary general of the Treasury under Nadia Calviño and took over her economy portfolio when she was elected to lead the European Investment Bank.
Spain's Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo will run the country's Transport Ministry until the November 29 election, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Wednesday morning, following the resignation of Óscar Puente.
Cuerpo, who is also first deputy prime minister, "has shown huge management skills" in the current legislature, Sánchez said in an address. Cuerpo served as secretary general of the Treasury under Nadia Calviño while she was economy minister, and took over her portfolio when she was elected to lead the European Investment Bank. Sánchez later promoted him to first deputy prime minister.
Puente resigned on Tuesday over the October 28 train crash in Toledo province that killed 69 people, calling his decision "a matter of political dignity." It was Spain's second deadly rail disaster of the year, after a January accident in Adamuz that killed 46 people.
"With his resignation, Óscar is contributing to Spain gaining back its confidence not only in our railway system, but also in political dignity," Sánchez said.