The train tragedy in Spain has become the "black swan" of the country's election cycle. The timing is extremely inopportune. In exactly one month, parliamentary elections will be held in the country, in which the socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's chances of being re-elected already seemed quite modest. The incident leaves a new mark on the voters' perception of Sanchez. Currently, 69 people are known to have died (the estimate is growing). The tragedy in the Castilla-La Mancha region was the deadliest train accident in Europe since 2013, when a train derailed in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, killing 80 people. The problem is systemic. From 2018 to 2022, Spain has spent €1.5 billion a year on its high-speed rail network. But only 16% went to modernization and maintenance, the rest were new projects. In terms of investment in the maintenance of the high-speed rail network, Spain is far behind the other major European countries. A shaky position. By the end of September, the conservative People's Party, led by Alberto Nunez Feijo, was ahead of the ruling party in the polls by 7%. In recent weeks, Sanchez managed to reduce this gap to 4%. Sánchez himself has ensured that his popularity will grow by making housing and other social issues the focus of his election campaign, and by emphasizing that the current cabinet is improving the lives of ordinary Spaniards. The train tragedy cast doubt on this thesis and gives the naysayers a head start. Telegram | maximum | strain |.

The train tragedy in Spain has become the "black swan" of the country's election cycle. The timing is extremely inopportune. In exactly one month, parliamentary elections will be held in the country, in which the socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's chances of being re-elected already seemed quite modest. The incident leaves a new mark on the voters' perception of Sanchez. Currently, 69 people are known to have died (the estimate is growing). The tragedy in the Castilla-La Mancha region was the deadliest train accident in Europe since 2013, when a train derailed in Santiago de Compostela, Spain, killing 80 people. The problem is systemic. From 2018 to 2022, Spain has spent €1.5 billion a year on its high-speed rail network. But only 16% went to modernization and maintenance, the rest were new projects. In terms of investment in the maintenance of the high-speed rail network, Spain is far behind the other major European countries. A shaky position. By the end of September, the conservative People's Party, led by Alberto Nunez Feijo, was ahead of the ruling party in the polls by 7%. In recent weeks, Sanchez managed to reduce this gap to 4%. Sánchez himself has ensured that his popularity will grow by making housing and other social issues the focus of his election campaign, and by emphasizing that the current cabinet is improving the lives of ordinary Spaniards. The train tragedy cast doubt on this thesis and gives the naysayers a head start. Telegram | maximum | strain |.