An investigation by the Spanish newspaper ABC revealed that the Minister of Transport of the socialist government of Pedro Sánchez, Óscar Puente, promoted a deep politicization of the leadership of the Railway Infrastructure Administrator (Adif), through the appointment and promotion of leaders linked to the PSOE and people from his inner circle to strategic positions within the organization.
The investigation, published by journalist Ketty Garat, identified at least 12 senior officials who were appointed or promoted in recent years, of which 11 received promotions or appointments during Puente's management, which began in November 2023.
According to complaints from officials and employees of the organization, the minister replaced technical profiles with leftist politicians linked to Sánchez's socialism, in a process that would have weakened the technical capacity of the public company responsible for managing Spanish railway infrastructure.
The revelations come amid a serious railway crisis, after two tragedies that occurred in 2026 left at least 115 dead, while Puente continues to reject calls for his resignation.
Political appointments in the leadership of Adif
Among the documented cases is Conchi Casillas, promoted in March 2024 to corporate director of People, Strategy, and Security. The official was part of PSOE electoral lists in Ávila during 2019 and 2023 and maintains ties with the UGT union.
Another official mentioned is Salvador Almenar Antón, initially hired as director of Communication and later promoted to director of the Presidency Cabinet. According to ABC, he took on responsibilities related to railway safety despite lacking prior experience in the sector.
