City of Palencia dismisses Vox spokesperson's appeal, leading to his termination
News Article:
Sonia Lalanda, Vox's spokesperson in the Palencia City Council, was expelled from the party due to her public criticisms of the party's principles, strategy, leadership under Santiago Abascal, and internal democratic practices. The party's Committee of Guarantees confirmed her expulsion because her statements were deemed "incompatible" with Vox's principles and damaging to its reputation[1].
Lalanda reacted strongly against her expulsion, accusing Vox of "caudillismo" (authoritarian leadership style) and lacking internal democracy. She criticized the party for functioning with "ordeno y mando" (command and control) and no genuine debate or project generation, emphasizing that leadership in Madrid tightly controls members and suppresses dissent. She warned that this model is dangerous for democracy and said Vox expels loyal but dissenting members to retain only the most docile politicians[2][4][3].
Following the expulsion, Lalanda announced plans to "fight judicially" against the party’s decision and declared she would continue serving as a non-affiliated councilor in Palencia, refusing to resign her seat. She framed her expulsion as part of a broader purge in Vox targeting those who do not conform, linking it to accusations that the party prioritizes control and political profit over loyalty and principles[2][5][4].
Meanwhile, in separate incidents, a man died after being shot in Torrevieja, Alicante, and a forest fire in Cádiar, Granada, was stabilized. Three men were arrested in connection with the shooting in Torrevieja, while no information was provided about the cause or suspects of the forest fire. It's important to note that these incidents do not seem to be related to each other or to the internal matters of Vox[6].
The implications of Lalanda’s expulsion highlight significant internal fractures within Vox, with dissenters publicly denouncing Abascal’s leadership style as authoritarian and intolerant toward internal debate. This episode may reinforce perceptions of Vox as a party with centralized control and weaken its image of internal democracy. Furthermore, it signals potential legal battles and ongoing public disputes that could affect Vox’s cohesion and public standing[3][4].
[1] EFE Spain, "Sonia Lalanda expulsada del Vox por críticas al liderazgo de Santiago Abascal y al partido", 4 de agosto de 2025. [2] El País, "Sonia Lalanda, expulsada del Vox, anuncia que luchará judicialmente contra la decisión", 4 de agosto de 2025. [3] El Mundo, "Sonia Lalanda expulsada del Vox: ¿qué significa para la formación política?", 4 de agosto de 2025. [4] ABC, "Sonia Lalanda, expulsada del Vox, denuncia falta de democracia interna y caudillismo", 4 de agosto de 2025. [5] La Razón, "Sonia Lalanda, expulsada del Vox, anuncia que seguirá siendo concejala no adscrita en Palencia", 4 de agosto de 2025. [6] EFE Spain, "Un hombre muere en Torrevieja tras ser disparado y se controla un incendio forestal en Cádiar", 4 de agosto de 2025.
- Despite the internal turmoil within Vox, general news about a forest fire in Cádiar and a shooting incident in Torrevieja continue to unfold, raising crime-and-justice concerns, separate from the party's policy-and-legislation matters.
- In the realm of sports and political news, the ongoing dispute between Sonia Lalanda and Vox, marked by accusations of caudillismo and lack of internal democracy, is drawing attention for its implications on the party's leadership and future.
