Congress has opened three new serious disciplinary cases against Vito Quiles. The journalist could permanently lose his press accreditation. The files cite repeated disruptions and unauthorized recordings inside the chamber.
The governing board of the Spanish Congress has initiated three additional disciplinary proceedings against Vito Quiles, raising the prospect of his permanent exclusion from parliamentary press activities. The new cases, delivered by the chamber’s legal advisors, cite repeated serious breaches of conduct, including disrupting a press conference by socialist spokesperson Patxi López and sharing images recorded in restricted areas of the building.
According to the legal assessment, this pattern of behavior demonstrates a deliberate intent to disrupt the normal functioning of Congress. The advisors argue that the accumulation of violations not only affects lawmakers but also undermines the work of other accredited journalists and the institution itself. The files, received on Wednesday, highlight that such repeated infractions could be reclassified as 'very serious' under Article 98 of the chamber’s regulations, potentially leading to the definitive withdrawal of Quiles’s press credentials.
Under current rules, serious violations can result in suspensions ranging from eleven days to three months, while very serious cases may lead to suspensions of up to three years or even permanent revocation. Quiles will be formally notified of the new disciplinary actions and will have an opportunity to submit his defense within a period typically set between ten days and two weeks. The final decision will rest with the board, which will determine whether to impose an indefinite suspension.
In addition to the cases against Quiles, the board is also reviewing a disciplinary file concerning Bertrand Ndongo, another far-right activist. Ndongo is accused of breaking protocol during a press appearance by Podemos spokesperson Ione Belarra on April 14, resulting in a verbal confrontation. A one-month suspension for a serious violation has been proposed in his case.
Both Quiles and Ndongo have had their accreditations suspended since May 13, pending resolution of more than a dozen open cases. Two weeks after the initial suspension, the board extended Quiles’s ban to three months for recording and sharing images of former president José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero in a restricted area last December. This penalty was later increased to four months in July.
The tightening of disciplinary measures in Congress comes amid broader efforts to reinforce institutional order and transparency. Recent months have seen increased scrutiny of parliamentary conduct and press access, as highlighted by the government’s move to establish a mandatory public register for lobbying groups, bypassing legislative deadlock. For further context on these transparency initiatives, see the report on the government’s decree creating a public lobby register.
Congressional press accreditation is a key tool for ensuring access and accountability in Spain’s legislative process. The current disciplinary actions underscore the chamber’s commitment to maintaining professional standards among accredited journalists and safeguarding the integrity of parliamentary proceedings. The outcome of these cases may set a precedent for future enforcement of conduct rules within the institution.
