Vox has summoned social media activists Vito Quiles and Bertrand Ndongo to the Congress of Deputies to participate in a round table, despite the fact that just a week ago the Board of the Chamber decided to provisionally suspend their press accreditation while a dozen complaints filed against both for alleged breaches of the institution's internal rules are analyzed.
The party has organized for the afternoon of next Monday, May 25, an event focused on the defense of freedom of expression at the parliamentary headquarters. The event will begin with an intervention by Vox's spokesperson in Congress, Pepa Millán, and is scheduled to be closed by the party's president, Santiago Abascal.
According to this parliamentary group, the event aims to denounce "the Government's attack on social networks" and the measures that, in their opinion, are being used to "limit the freedom of expression of Spaniards critical of its policies and prevent their influence on public debate."
The political 'influencer' Vito Quiles, who was a candidate on 'Alvise' Pérez's European list and participated in a PP of Aragon campaign closing event, will speak alongside Ndongo in a debate panel focused on the need to protect freedom of expression on digital platforms.
Participation as guests, not as press
The Board of Congress, with the support of representatives from PSOE and Sumar, agreed on May 13 to temporarily withdraw the press credentials of Quiles and Ndongo, who were accredited by the digital media outlets 'Estado de Alarma' and 'Periodista Digital'. However, their attendance at next Monday's event will be as guests of Vox, the third force in the Chamber, and not as journalists.
Eleven registered complaints weigh on both (eight against Quiles and three against Ndongo), promoted by PSOE, Sumar, and Podemos, as well as by journalist associations, for different behaviors considered contrary to the rules of professional practice in Congress and for disrupting coexistence in the press rooms. While these cases are being resolved, which are being processed by the Chamber's lawyers, the Board opted to provisionally suspend their accreditations.