In Valencia, the decision by Santiago Abascal to break with the Partido Popular in regional governments has sharpened a rift within Vox’s ranks in the Valencian Cortes. The division pits deputies from Alicante against those from Valencia and Castellón, a rift that traces back to the previous legislative period and peaked last December. At that time, Ana Vega, Vox’s spokeswoman and party leader in Alicante, was demoted from her role and replaced by the Valencian José María Llanos. Abascal’s move against the PP has highlighted a conflict that has shown up in other recent departures as well.
One manifestation occurred in the Permanent Deputation of the Cortes, the parliamentary body where Vox is represented by Llanos Massó as its president. In that body, the main Vox figures were Vega and the Valencian Joaquín Alés as titular members, with José María Llanos and Miguel Pascual serving as substitutes. Recently, José María Llanos, acting as Vox’s síndic, informed the Cortes’ Bureau of the group’s decision, which leaves the new titulares in the body as José María Llanos and the Castellonese David Muñoz. Vega, accompanied by Alés, has been reduced to a substitute role.
Jesús Albiol
In this way, as had happened when Vega was removed as síndica, Vega sees her position taken by José María Llanos. The changes do not end there, because Vox adds another substitute alongside the Alicante president and Alés. This is Jesús Albiol, who also serves as the Culture councilor in Burriana, a Castellón municipality, and who thus sees his career with the ultra party rewarded.
Albiol has lately been at the center of several controversies. The first involved the removal of LGBTI books and sexual education materials from Burriana’s library. Albiol claimed the moves were meant to “protect minors from pornographic content.” Later, Burriana, where the PP governs with Vox, vetoed the purchase of Barbie films and 20,000 Species of Bees in the municipal library. The films had emerged as symbols of feminist empowerment and advocacy for transgender rights.