"The Guarantees Committee --independent body of Vox-- has finalized this Thursday the disciplinary file of Javier Ortega Smith agreeing to his expulsion from the party and the loss of his membership status for "very serious infraction" for having refused to comply with a resolution issued by the National Executive Committee which agreed to the change of spokesperson in the Vox municipal group in the Madrid City Council", it has been stated in a statement collected by Europa Press.
On the other hand, the committee has opened a "disciplinary file" against José Ángel Antelo, deputy in the Assembly of Murcia, for the "events protagonized and the statements" since last February 26, when five of the six members of the Provincial Executive Committee (CEP) of Vox in the Region of Murcia resigned en masse to force his expulsion, alleging a "serious crisis of internal cohesion".
Suspension of membership and disqualification for Antelo
The same body has decided, as a precautionary measure, to suspend Antelo from membership and disqualify him from holding "any position" within the party, alleging the "special seriousness of the facts."
Sources from Vox have criticized in statements to Europa Press the conduct of the two politicians affected by the decision of the Guarantees Committee, and have assured that Vox "will not tolerate" disrespect towards its members or its officials both within the party and in institutions, recalling that they have been "legitimately designated" and defending that "in an exemplary manner, they fulfill the responsibilities assigned to them".
In particular, he has reproached Ortega Smith for his "actions all aimed at disobeying" his replacement in the spokespersonship in the Madrid City Council, a decision agreed by "unanimity" by the National Executive Committee, "of which he was a part and whose statutes he approved."
In this regard, they have recalled that the leader of Vox attended the Plenary last February 24 as spokesperson, coinciding with the councilwoman chosen to relieve him in the position, Arantxa Cabello, and "going so far as to discredit and reprimand her actions."
Ortega Smith, affiliate number 6 of Vox
Furthermore, they have criticized the statements and "disqualifications" towards the party, its leadership and its members, by Ortega Smith, co-founder of Vox with affiliate number 6, and they wanted to remind him that "a founder worthy of such a name submits to the rules more than anyone else".
As for Antelo, the same sources have accused the deputy of carrying out "interested leaks" with the aim of securing his permanence in the position as president of Vox in Murcia, which they have denounced for "breaking with the principle of unity and loyalty" and failing in the "duty of confidentiality".
Thus, in statements to Europa Press, they have assured that the members of the Vox parliamentary group, who resigned to force Antelo's departure, have admitted having received "pressure" from him to "rebel" against the party.
In allusion to Antelo's statements, who denounced a falsification of his digital signature in the party's letter addressed to the Bureau of the Chamber to remove him from the Spokespersonship, the sources have pointed out that these accusations had the "evident intention of undermining his prestige and concealing the legitimate will of Vox's representatives." Likewise, they have asserted that the deputies signed "by hand" Antelo's dismissal while they used the parliamentary group's electronic signature for its telematic registration, in line with what was required by the Assembly.
Accusations "false"
In this regard, they have branded as "false" the accusations made by Antelo and have recalled that his replacement at the head of the Spokesperson's Office, Rubén Martínez Alpañez, has defended "the good work and the rectitude of action" of the deputies who decided "freely and democratically" Antelo's dismissal.
Vox sources have also denounced that Antelo's statements to the press constitute "serious and false" accusations against Vox, including its affiliates and leaders, ruling out that it is a "simple expression of his free opinion".