The president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, argues that on November 29, there will be a choice between democracy and authoritarianism. He also demands more transparency and resources for the railway network following the Urda accident.
The president of the Generalitat, Salvador Illa, has given an interview in which he calls for the maintenance of public governance of the railway after the Urda accident. According to elDiario.es, the conversation took place on Thursday afternoon in the Sala de los Diputados of the Palau de la Generalitat, in Barcelona.
Illa asserts that the general elections on November 29 will serve to decide between democratic institutions and authoritarianism. He is convinced that the PSOE will win and that Pedro Sánchez will remain at the helm of the Government. According to him, the campaign must resume with respect after mourning the 69 victims.
“The accident has been a tragedy and has deeply shocked us all.”
Regarding the departure of Óscar Puente from the Ministry of Transport, Illa states that he respects the minister's decision. He recalls that Puente provided explanations in press conferences and during an appearance in the Congress of Deputies, and that his first reason was that “not all of us are the same.” Illa adds that the initial conclusions of the investigation point, according to the minister himself, to human error.
To regain trust, Illa proposes transparency, resources, and respect for what the technicians say. He acknowledges that the high-speed network and the commuter network have suffered from long periods of low investment. He also defends that the governance of the system must remain public, even though several companies operate, as mandated by a European directive. In Spain, he adds, that governance must be strengthened or revised in light of what has occurred.
When asked about the new line between Lleida and Barcelona designed for 350 km/h, Illa considers it logical to study more maintenance and safety without giving up on high-speed objectives. Regarding Rodalies, which according to Illa has experienced a deterioration in service this year, he attributes part of the problems to the storms from three weeks ago, which he describes as almost a Mediterranean hurricane.
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