A new conflict is brewing in Spanish politics: Vox party leader Santiago Abascal has unexpectedly removed Javier Ortega Smith from the National Executive Committee. This marks another step in the prolonged process of sidelining one of the party’s most prominent co-founders. Ortega Smith, who served as secretary general for many years, now finds himself out of the party’s key leadership structures.
In recent months, relations between Ortega Smith and the Vox leadership have noticeably cooled. He was already removed from his position as deputy spokesperson in the Congress of Deputies, a move he called both a mistake and an injustice. Ortega Smith expressed open bewilderment over what was happening and did not shy away from criticizing the party’s direction, especially after he said in 2023 that Vox should not become a ‘job agency for friends.’
Ortega Smith continues to serve as a deputy and leads the Vox faction on Madrid’s city council. However, his influence over the party’s internal affairs has clearly waned. Over the past year, he has stepped up his criticism of party leadership, with his closest allies gradually losing their own standing as well.
Losing ground
The gradual sidelining of Ortega Smith began back in October 2022, when Abascal replaced him as secretary general with Ignacio Garriga. Ortega Smith remained vice president at the time, but was soon demoted to an ordinary committee member. Now, he has been removed from the leadership altogether.
Party insiders consider it unlikely that Ortega Smith will once again head the Vox list in Madrid’s 2027 municipal elections, despite his repeated statements about wanting to continue his political career. Nevertheless, he remains popular among rank-and-file party members, though most of his supporters have already lost their key positions.
Interestingly, Ortega Smith was the last of Vox’s founders still on the leadership team. The others had either left the party or were removed earlier. His charisma and grassroots support long prevented a direct confrontation with Abascal, but now the leadership has opted for a gradual sidelining strategy.
Internal disagreements
In a recent interview, Ortega Smith described his relationship with Abascal as “distant” and hinted that his downfall within the party might be linked to his friendship with former Vox parliamentary speaker Iván Espinosa de los Monteros. The latter now heads the Atenea foundation, whose launch event Ortega Smith also attended. He has stated he does not plan to change his circle to suit intra-party intrigue.
Vox’s leadership chose not to engage in open conflict with Ortega Smith, fearing backlash from his supporters. Instead, his influence was gradually diminished, with key roles given to new faces. Notably, his resignation coincided with a successful election for the party in Extremadura, where Vox doubled its number of deputies.
When Ortega Smith was removed from his position as deputy press secretary in Congress last November, Abascal simply commented that the party has many talented people and that new faces should be given a chance. He was replaced by Carlos Hernández Quero, who is now responsible for Vox’s housing policy.
New appointments
Replacing Ortega Smith on the National Executive Committee is Julia Calvet, a Catalan parliamentarian from Vox and a representative of the party’s youth wing. Calvet is known as a lawyer and former head of the youth association S’ha Acabat!, which actively opposes Catalan nationalism.
By appointing Calvet, Abascal aims to strengthen support among young people and bridge the rift with the Revuelta association, previously considered Vox’s youth brand. Recently, Revuelta has been at the center of scandal after accusations of misusing funds allocated for victims of the Dana floods.
Thus, the party continues to revamp its team, betting on new leaders and distancing itself from former figures. Internal disagreements and the struggle for influence within Vox appear to be intensifying.
