The ruling by the head of the Montoro Court of Instance permits the regional administration to claim extraordinary expenses and damages resulting from the incident, which claimed the lives of 46 people and injured over two hundred. However, this involvement does not grant it the authority to participate in the criminal investigation phase, meaning it cannot request evidence or promote investigative actions.
The autonomous administration is incorporated into the procedure solely as a civil party.
This decision contrasts with other requests for involvement. The judge rejected the entry into the case of city councils such as Lepe, Huelva, and Punta Umbría, which were not granted participation in the proceedings. These municipalities have announced their intention to exhaust all legal avenues to join as popular prosecution.
The Minister of Justice, Local Administration and Public Function, José Antonio Nieto, had previously expressed the Junta's confidence in its involvement, an aspiration that has finally been met, albeit with limitations. Meanwhile, the Minister of Economy, Finance, European Funds and Social Dialogue and spokesperson for the Andalusian Government, Carolina España, emphasized the need for the investigation to “go all the way” for the victims and their families.
“"The important and urgent thing is that the whole truth is known."
In the same order, Judge Pastor admitted the popular prosecution of entities such as the Sindicato Colectivo de Funcionarios Manos Limpias, Vox, the Asociación HazteOir.org, the Sindicato de Maquinistas y Ayudantes Ferroviarios (Semaf), the Asociación Víctima de los Políticos, and the Asociación Liberum, conditioned on a bond of 3,000 euros for each. However, she rejected the involvement of Ouigo España SAU, deeming it not a direct affected party.
