Iván Espinosa de los Monteros y de Simón, the son of the Marquess of Valtierra, was expelled from the Vox party last Wednesday following a three-year conflict with the national leadership under Santiago Abascal. The expulsion marks the end of internal efforts to force an extraordinary party congress and raises the possibility of Espinosa de los Monteros forming a new political entity with other ousted members.
Why was Iván Espinosa de los Monteros expelled from Vox?
The expulsion of Iván Espinosa de los Monteros follows a protracted power struggle with Santiago Abascal’s state leadership. According to sources familiar with the matter, the tension escalated during the selection of electoral lists for state and municipal elections, where Abascal vetoed several names proposed by Espinosa de los Monteros for key positions.
The relationship deteriorated further following the 2023 elections. Sources state that Espinosa de los Monteros sought a ministerial position, a goal that remained unfulfilled after the right-wing bloc failed to secure the necessary results to govern. This failure to attain a cabinet post served as a breaking point in a rivalry that had been simmering for three years.
Will a new political party be formed?
While no official party has been registered, several former Vox executives have publicly discussed the possibility of creating a new political vehicle. The expulsion of Espinosa de los Monteros removes the final remaining critics from within the party, effectively ending the internal rebellion that sought an extraordinary congress.
The conflict has now shifted from an internal dispute to a potential external electoral competition. If Espinosa de los Monteros and his allies move forward with a new party, they would compete for the same right-wing electorate currently targeted by Vox.
What was the internal conflict regarding electoral lists?
The friction centered on the control of candidate selection. According to reported accounts, Abascal used his authority to block specific candidates favored by Espinosa de los Monteros. By vetoing these names from key spots on the lists, the party leadership limited the influence Espinosa de los Monteros could exert over the party’s legislative and municipal representation.
This tactical move by Abascal ensured that the party’s direction remained centralized, preventing the rise of a competing power center within the organization led by the son of the Marquess of Valtierra.
The end of the internal rebellion
For several months, a faction within Vox attempted to organize an extraordinary congress to challenge the current leadership structure. The expulsion of Espinosa de los Monteros on Wednesday serves as the definitive conclusion to this movement. With the primary catalyst for the rebellion removed, there is no longer a coordinated internal opposition capable of forcing a leadership vote.
The transition from internal dissent to external competition is a common pattern in Spanish politics, where expelled leaders often leverage their remaining followers to launch splinter parties.
The next development will be whether Espinosa de los Monteros formally announces a new political platform or seeks a different role within the Spanish political landscape. Updates on any official party registration will be monitored as they occur.
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