Deadly Train Crash Deals Major Blow to Spanish PM Sánchez Ahead of Vote
A deadly train crash in Spain has severely impacted Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, with a new poll showing his party dropping below 25% support ahead of the November elections as the right-wing surges.
A devastating train crash in central Spain, which claimed the lives of 69 people, has severely damaged the political standing of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez just weeks before the upcoming national elections on November 29, 2026. According to a new poll published by the Spanish daily El Mundo, the public holds the prime minister directly responsible for the disaster, leading to a sharp decline in support for the ruling Spanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE).
The poll indicates that Sánchez and the PSOE have shed approximately 450,000 votes in a matter of weeks, pushing the party's support below 25 percent for the first time. The socialists are projected to win fewer than 100 parliamentary seats, a steep drop from the 121 seats and 31.7 percent of the vote they secured in previous elections. Meanwhile, the center-right People's Party (PP), led by Alberto Núñez Feijóo, has surged to over 31 percent support, projecting between 133 and 139 seats in the 350-seat parliament.
To secure a parliamentary majority of 176 seats, the People's Party is expected to form a coalition with VOX, the right-wing nationalist party. VOX currently commands 19 to 20 percent in the polls, translating to 63 to 69 seats—nearly double its previous electoral strength. Meanwhile, far-left parties Sumar and Podemos are facing a severe voter backlash, paving the way for a potential right-wing government.
The tragic railway accident occurred in the Toledo province on October 28, 2026, marking one of the worst rail disasters in modern European history. Coming just nine months after another fatal crash near Adamuz in the Córdoba province that left 46 dead, public outrage has intensified. While Transport Minister Óscar Puente pointed to computer and synchronization failures in the control room, mounting pressure and resignation calls continue to plague the administration.
Prior to the catastrophe, Sánchez had attempted to shift public focus toward housing affordability and the cost-of-living crisis, aiming to draw attention away from corruption scandals surrounding his associates and family, as well as a migration surge involving over 75,000 unauthorized arrivals. Despite declaring three days of national mourning and promising a thorough investigation, the latest polling suggests that the political momentum has decisively turned against the incumbent government.
