An unprecedented split has occurred within the Spanish Vox party. Javier Ortega Smith, one of the party's founders, refused to resign his mandate and successfully blocked an attempt to remove him from his position as spokesperson in the Madrid City Council. The conflict with party leader Santiago Abascal has led to a de facto division of Vox councilors into two camps, paralyzing voting unity in the capital and undermining the authority of the national leadership.

Rebellion in Madrid

Javier Ortega Smith refused to resign his mandate and position as spokesperson, ignoring orders from the national leadership of the Vox party.

Paralysis of the city council

Vox councilors began voting separately, signifying a de facto split in the party's municipal structures in the Spanish capital.

Abascal's reaction

Party leader Santiago Abascal announces disciplinary consequences, stating that no one is above the party's statute.

Role of Mayor Almeida

The city authorities from the People's Party are exploiting the conflict within Vox to strengthen their own negotiating position in the local government.

The internal crisis within the Vox party spilled into the public forum during a stormy session of the Madrid City Council at the Cibeles Palace. Javier Ortega Smith, despite being suspended from party membership by the national Guarantee Committee, managed to retain his position as group spokesperson. This was made possible by a decision from the council's secretariat, which ruled that the formal requirements for his dismissal by the party had not been met. The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, watched the right-wing infighting with irony, pointing out the opponents' lack of internal cohesion. The situation led to a farcical course of proceedings, during which Vox councilors voted separately. The faction loyal to Ortega Smith voted against measures supported by the party leadership, constituting a clear breach of party discipline. Ortega Smith himself announced that he does not intend to resign his parliamentary seat in the national parliament, declaring that his priority remains serving Madrid and Spain. Santiago Abascal responded with a firm statement, emphasizing that in a political party, everyone must abide by the rules, and the process of expelling the rebel is ongoing. The Vox party was founded in 2013 as a right-wing alternative to the People's Party, relying on strong leadership and a unified ideological message, which for years protected it from the splits typical of the Spanish left. This conflict is seen as a battle for the soul of the party between the radical wing centered around the founders and the new party apparatus. Ortega's associates emphasize his historical merits, while Abascal's circle seeks full centralization of power. The impasse in Madrid's city hall may last several weeks, as Abascal's loyalists hope that a final decision to expel Ortega from the party will automatically strip him of leadership within the councilor group. „Voy a continuar como portavoz del grupo municipal porque Madrid se lo merece.” (I will continue as the municipal group spokesperson because Madrid deserves it.) — Javier Ortega Smith Meanwhile, opposition representatives note that the internal war in Vox makes it easier for the People's Party to govern, as it can now maneuver between the feuding factions of the far right. This situation casts a shadow over Vox's future poll results, which until now were based on an image of a monolith resistant to internal personal friction. 3 — Vox councilors have split into two warring camps

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