Fatima Baniz, former Minister of Labor of Spain, was confirmed as one of the victims in the deadly train accident near Toledo on Wednesday. This horrific accident resulted in the deaths of at least 69 people.
Announcement of Baniz's death
Baniz's death was announced by CEOE, the main employers' association in Spain, which she chaired the foundation of. The statement read: "Baniz's leadership, social commitment, and strategic vision have left an indelible mark on this organization and all those who worked with her."
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Baniz's political background
Fatima Baniz served in the government of Mariano Rajoy, the right-wing Prime Minister of Spain, from 2011 to 2018 and played a central role in Spain's response to the Eurozone crisis. During this time, she established a friendly relationship with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, who was then her counterpart in the German Ministry of Labor.
As Minister of Labor, she oversaw the controversial labor market reforms in 2012 that made it easier for companies to lay off employees and faced strong opposition from labor unions. The government argued that these changes would lead to greater flexibility in hiring and accelerate the country's economic recovery.
Government's reaction to the incident
Pedro Sanchez, the Prime Minister of Spain, stated at the site of the accident that he would declare three days of national mourning and said: "All of Spain is in mourning." He added: "It is unacceptable for a country like Spain to experience two high-speed train accidents in one year. We will investigate this matter, and if any mistakes have been made, we will expose them, and if there are deficiencies in the system, we will act decisively."
Oscar Puente, the Minister of Transport, announced that initial investigations indicate the accident was caused by an order from an official at the national railway control center in Madrid, who "unjustifiably" directed a high-speed train towards a track where another train was stopped. He emphasized that Spain has a "safe transport system," but acknowledged that "human action plays a role" and that despite extensive safety regulations and protocols, "failures may occur."
