The resignation of Iván Espinosa de los Monteros from his positions as newly re-elected MP and acting parliamentary spokesperson for Vox, on Tuesday, created a vacancy that in line with the order of the Spanish far-right party's list, was to have been occupied by a doctor, Juan Luis Steegmann. Two days later, this latter deputy, who earned the enmity of party colleagues and supporters for defending vaccination during the Covid-19 pandemic, also folds. Steegmann will become a deputy in the Spanish Congress, and in fact has resigned from all positions within the party. He will be replaced by deputy Carla Toscano, known for her controversial statements against the Spanish equality minister, Irene Montero.
Vox lost 19 MPs and more than 600,000 votes in the last general election in comparision with the November 2019 election. But the lack of loyalty among voters is also becoming evident within the party itself, which is suffering its biggest crisis since its foundation 10 years ago. Steegmann's resignation only piles more pressure on Vox leader Santiago Abascal, who faces internal criticism of his leadership.
Steegmann himself is a very controversial figure within the far-right party. During the pandemic he was Vox's health spokesperson, and while he was applauded for his harsh criticisms of the management of the Spanish government and especially of the then health minister, Salvador Illa, praise quickly turned into rebukes. The doctor defended and promoted vaccination against Covid as a necessary and effective measure, a position that was not shared by a large part of Vox's electorate, who took a denialist view. Some even went so far as to nickname him a "vaccinazi". The news that in the elections of 23rd July he was again on the far-right lists reawakened the hatred of some Vox supporters on social media.
Steegmann: "The doors of Congress open, but I won't enter"
In a statement, Steegmann said that being a member of Vox had been an "immeasurable honour" and thanked Abascal for the opportunity. "My gratitude to Santiago is forever," he said. The haematologist explained that, on July 24th, after not making the cut for entry to the lower house, he resigned from the national executive committee of Vox. After this Tuesday's resignation of Espinosa de los Monteros, which he described as "sad and surprising", he was faced with the possibility of repeating as parliamentarian, but he rejected it. "Now the door to Congress is open again, but I will not enter," he reported without giving further details of the reasons.
Steegmann affirms that he tried to exercise his role as deputy with "loyalty, sincerity and esteem" and "trying to ensure that the dignity of the position translates into the best service to the health of the Spanish, to Spain and to Vox". However, he affirms that in the new legislature "there are others who must be on board". His statement concludes by reiterating thanks to Abascal: "Here is my encouragement and my arm for whatever you need and whatever Vox requires."
Carla Toscano will be a deputy again
The double resignation from Vox has made it possible, against all odds, for the number seven on the lists of the far-right party in Madrid, Carla Toscano, to repeat as deputy. This parliamentarian, who is also a councillor in the Madrid City Council, was at the center of the controversy last November when, in an intervention, she told the then minister of equality, Irene Montero, that her "only merit" had been "studying Pablo Iglesias in depth".