Vox Faces Internal Turmoil: Dissenting Leaders Call for Party Reformation
In a significant gathering in Madrid, around one hundred former and current leaders of Vox convened to voice their concerns over the party's direction under the leadership of Santiago Abascal. Describing the party's current state as akin to a 'chiringuito'—a Spanish term for a makeshift or informal establishment—these leaders positioned themselves as the true patriots battling against what they perceive as tyranny from within.
The meeting included prominent figures such as Idoia Ribas and Agustín Buades, deputies from the Balearic Islands who are currently not affiliated with Vox following their expulsion. Other notable attendees were Ana Rosa Hernando and Javier Teira, former representatives from the Castile and León Courts, and Isabel Lázaro, a former deputy in the Catalan Parliament who has publicly accused Vox's Secretary General Ignacio Garriga of embezzlement and misappropriation.
Among those who captured attention was Rubén Manso, a former deputy and the architect behind Vox's economic strategy. He has been an outspoken critic of the party's recent trajectory. However, some of his allies, such as former parliamentary spokesperson Iván Espinosa de los Monteros and former deputy Víctor Sánchez del Real, opted to skip the dissenters' meeting.
The conclave culminated in the endorsement of what they have termed the 'Barajas Declaration.' This document articulates their grievances, which encompass a perceived lack of internal democracy, uncertainties surrounding party financing, and controversial decisions to dissolve coalition governments with the Popular Party (PP). Additionally, the declaration addresses Vox's integration into the European Parliament group of Patriots and its subsequent exit from Giorgia Meloni's Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).
Among the demands outlined in the Barajas Declaration is a call for a return to the foundational principles of Vox's original manifesto. They seek new statutes aimed at enhancing members' voices within the party, emphasizing their commitment to reclaiming their political identity.
As spokesperson Alejandro Pérez de la Sota succinctly summarized, 'We are a group of compatriots facing tyranny,' reflecting the sentiment shared among the dissenting members. This meeting not only highlights the rift within Vox but also raises questions about the party's future and its democratic processes as it grapples with internal dissent and calls for reform.
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