Óscar Puente's shameful behavior amid a wave of forest fires

How could it possibly be that Spain has a minister who jokes about this?

Esp 8·12·2025 · 8:44 0

As is typical every summer, forest fires are wreaking havoc in several areas of Spain, causing injuries and evacuations.

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We've been experiencing a dangerous situation for a few days now: very high temperatures in some areas, wind, and very dry forests due to the lack of rainfall. It was only a matter of time before something like this happened, and whether the fires were deliberate or accidental (investigating this is a task for the security forces), all public administrations should be joining forces to combat this threat, regardless of their political affiliation.

Incredibly, yesterday, while many Spaniards watched in horror as the flames advanced towards their homes and properties, a minister in Pedro Sánchez's government dedicated himself to publishing jokes about the fires on Twitter. Coincidentally, the minister in question is the socialist Óscar Puente, Minister of Transport, under whose mandate Spain is experiencing unprecedented railway chaos.

One of my best friends is a forest firefighter. He has experienced very dangerous situations in his work. On one occasion, he even went so far as to not tell anyone when he saw himself surrounded by flames. He speaks about his work with passion and modesty, and when I listen to him, I always feel that people like him should be a source of pride for all Spaniards. We are talking about people who do dangerous work for a modest salary, well below the 106,740.84 euros that Óscar Puente earns each year.

Yesterday, when I saw Óscar Puente's messages, I asked myself: What do the forest firefighters who are risking their lives think when they see a minister making these jokes? It doesn't matter that he later deleted these messages, since by the time he did they were already spreading throughout the internet and he hasn't even had the courtesy to apologize for it. Óscar Puente already has a long history of terrible behavior on Twitter, acting like a troll, which is the type of unscrupulous user who behaves with an absolute lack of respect towards others. Someone like him should never have been appointed minister, because although in Spain we have become accustomed to something very different, a person who holds a position like that should set an example, and not be a constant source of embarrassment to others.

I know it won't do any good to say it, because it's not the first time and it's clear that Sánchez has given Puente free rein to behave like a madman, but the current Minister of Transport shouldn't remain in office for a minute longer. Millions of Spaniards who get up early every day to go to work and who religiously pay their taxes don't deserve the shameful spectacle presented by a minister who has shown ample evidence of incompetence and whose main concern seems to be setting social media ablaze. Puente's continued tenure is yet another sign of the kind of government we have in Spain.

+ UPDATED 9:09h: A few minutes after publishing this article I read the news of the death of the man who was 98% burned yesterday in the Tres Cantos fire, in the Community of Madrid. My prayers for him and my condolences to his family.

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Main photo: Ministerio de Defensa. Videos: 112 Comunidad de Madrid / Unidad Militar de Emergencias / Guardia Civil.

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