Vox definitively expels Ortega Smith from the party

MadridVox's internal investigations committee has agreed to the definitive expulsion of the party's founder and former secretary general, Javier Ortega Smith. The decision was made two weeks after disciplinary proceedings were opened against him. He will be temporarily removed for refusing to step down as spokesperson in the Madrid City Council. The party considers this a "very serious infraction."

"Ortega, who has boasted of being member number 6, should know that a founder worthy of the name submits to the rules more than anyone else," Santiago Abascal's party explained in a statement, adding that they will not tolerate "disrespect towards their members or the other party and institutional officials" who "fulfill their assigned responsibilities."

Meanwhile, Vox has also opened a disciplinary case against The former leader in Murcia, José Ángel Antelo"From the moment he became aware of his possible replacement as president of the Vox Murcia provincial executive committee [...], he began a series of public statements, social media posts, and deliberate leaks aimed at securing his continued tenure and hindering the legitimate decisions of the party leadership," the far-right party explained. As a precautionary measure, and "due to the particular seriousness of the events," Antelo has been suspended from his membership rights and barred from holding "any position or office within the party." The regional parliamentary group had already decided this Tuesday to remove him as spokesperson in the assembly after he rebelled against the national leadership for wanting to replace him as president in Murcia—the regional executive committee resigned en masse to exert pressure in this regard.

Critics Alliance

Now, however, Antelo has a new ally: former Vox leader Juan García-Gallardo, who served as vice president of Castile and León and who also fled the party due to disagreements with Abascal. In a message on X, García-Gallardo, a lawyer, explained that he has taken on Antelo's legal representation to defend him against accusations of alleged mismanagement and corruption spread by the Vox leadership.

A formal notice demanding a retraction of these "falsehoods" has already arrived at Bambú's headquarters. According to the lawyer, Abascal's team told the EFE news agency that Antelo had been dismissed for allegedly taking steps to benefit his wife. If the party does not issue an "immediate" retraction of this information, García-Gallardo warns that Antelo will take Vox to court. In a press conference this Friday, during the election campaign in Castile and León, Abascal dismissed this alliance between Antelo and García-Gallardo against the Vox leadership as "soap operas." "Anyone in Vox is obligated to respect the internal rules," the leader of the far-right party emphasized.