Spain

A second report into the train accident at Urda has turned a local tragedy into a systemic crisis. Investigators suggest the high-speed network, long the pride of the state, is being hollowed out by a lack of investment and the pressures of liberalization. Adif, the infrastructure manager, is now being asked if it has been using the wrong safety protocols on multiple occasions.

The political response has followed familiar tracks. The government will approve aid for victims on Tuesday, while Renfe has ordered drivers to crawl at 40 km/h if signaling systems fail. On the right, the PP has pivoted its campaign to highlight its leader’s managerial credentials; further right, Vox is using the crash to criminalize the administration. Meanwhile, left-wing parties have begun to distance themselves from the PSOE following a separate tragedy in Toledo.

Beyond the tracks, the rest of the infrastructure is showing similar strain. Heavy rains caused a total power outage across the island of La Palma, and October’s inflation hit 4.9%. With a housing crisis forcing more families into single-room rentals, the government is facing reports suggesting that, regarding national infrastructure, simply building more is no longer enough to ensure safety.