Vice president Vox and congressional deputy spokesperson of the far-right party, Javier Ortega-Smith, visited Alicante Central Market this Friday morning. Beyond the planned media appearances where he spoke about the city center’s low-emission zone and the no-confidence motion advanced by his party, the most notable moments unfolded inside the bustling provincial capital. While shopping at the famed Alicante building, Vox entered the interior of the Market, where traders, supporters, and bystanders encountered him in a scene that surprised many who were not expecting such a political moment to unfold amid everyday commerce. [Citation: Local event coverage]
microphones
In this setting, Ortega Smith appeared more at ease than when facing formal interview microphones and openly challenged the People’s Party and the Socialist government led by Pedro Sánchez. The crowd around him shouted support as he pressed on with his rhetoric. The chant, often heard in such demonstrations, echoed a demand for strong action against perceived ideological hostage-taking in policy matters, with Ortega Smith warning that a range of positions he described as harmful would be confronted publicly. At one point he leaned toward a butcher’s stall, mimicking cutting a piece of meat with his hands and assuring a skeptical client that the law would be broken into manageable parts, a gesture intended to illustrate his view of political resistance. [Citation: On-site coverage]
Surrounding him as he spoke were Ana Vega, a Valencian Courts trustee; Mario Ortolá, municipal spokesperson; and Carmen Robledillo, a candidate for mayor of Alicante. Ortega Smith framed his remarks around the central theme of the low-emission zone, arguing that it would bring about adverse consequences for traders, small carriers, and traditional businesses in the heart of Alicante. The Vox deputy sought to project unity with local allies while insisting that the policy would be pursued with electoral restraint in mind, challenging opponents to consider the local impact before making political calculations. [Citation: Event remarks and attendee list]
motion of condemnation
During the discussion of a recent no-confidence motion proposed by his party, Vox indicated that a candidate would be announced in the near future, with Ramon Tames emerging as a parliamentary figure around whom the strategy would center. The spokesperson stressed that the identity of any single candidate was less important than the pursuit of elections that could be held as soon as possible. He described the initiative as a bid to unite political will across factions, arguing that ballots would cross affiliations regardless of whether voters lean to the right or the left. He concluded with a call for clear communication of the message in extraordinary national circumstances as Spain faced political turbulence similar to recent national emergencies. [Citation: Political strategy summary]