During an address at the Ateneo de Madrid, Iván Espinosa de los Monteros, former spokesperson for Vox in the Congress, launched a strong critique against the party's current leadership. The former deputy reproached them for their attempt to "rewrite history" by downplaying the figure of Javier Ortega Smith in the political formation's origins.
Javier Ortega Smith was fundamental for the emergence of Vox and holds enormous weight and authority to speak about the party as one of its founders.
Espinosa de los Monteros, who remains affiliated with Vox pending the resolution of his expulsion file, has once again emerged as one of the most prominent voices of the critical sector. He was emphatic in defending Ortega Smith, asserting that his contribution was "fundamental" for the birth of Vox and that he possesses "enormous weight" and the necessary authority to speak about the party as one of its founders.
The former deputy described it as "striking" that some Vox members, especially those who have joined more recently, attempt to deny this foundational role. His criticism is part of a broader reflection on the party's internal situation, where he has called for an extraordinary congress. This congress, according to Espinosa de los Monteros, should serve to debate ideology, review the operational model, establish checks and balances, and reflect on the treatment of elected officials, party members, and grassroots militants.
Furthermore, Espinosa de los Monteros hinted that the party's leadership tends to divert attention to internal issues before electoral processes, a strategy that, in his view, might seek to justify possible unfavorable results. He also referred to the doubts about the party's financing raised by Javier Ortega Smith, stating that he is "now" becoming aware of certain information and recalling that he was never part of Vox's National Executive Committee, although he was aware of the parliamentary group's financing in the Congress.
