All 52 MPs of Spains far-right party Vox and their teams have self-isolated after their secretary-general tested positive for coronavirus.
The party announced Tuesday that Javier Ortega Smith had tested positive for the virus two days after he attended a crowded rally in Madrid over the weekend. The news triggered the cancellation of this weeks plenary session of both houses of the Spanish parliament. Its still unknown whether any other Vox MP has caught the virus.
At the rally, attended by more than 9,000 supporters and Vox leaders from across the country, Ortega greeted dozens of people with hugs and kisses. He was tested at a hospital on Monday evening after feeling unwell and having a fever.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal apologized for holding the event, and criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for not canceling marches held across the country on Monday to celebrate International Womens Day, which were attended by several Cabinet ministers. The government has so far banned indoor events attended by more than 1,000 people in Madrid and two other coronavirus hotspots.
“We understood that it would have been irresponsible to generate panic by suspending a public event while the rest of the country continued to operate as normal,” Abascal said in a statement. “That was a mistake for which we apologize.”
Vox is calling for a more drastic response from the government, including the cancellation of all parliamentary sessions and border controls. Although Vox is the third largest party in the Spanish parliament, the institution will remain open and carry on with its weekly agenda, its president, Meritxell Batet, said.
Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, spokesperson for the main opposition Popular Party, urged all Vox MPs to be tested Read More – Source
All 52 MPs of Spains far-right party Vox and their teams have self-isolated after their secretary-general tested positive for coronavirus.
The party announced Tuesday that Javier Ortega Smith had tested positive for the virus two days after he attended a crowded rally in Madrid over the weekend. The news triggered the cancellation of this weeks plenary session of both houses of the Spanish parliament. Its still unknown whether any other Vox MP has caught the virus.
At the rally, attended by more than 9,000 supporters and Vox leaders from across the country, Ortega greeted dozens of people with hugs and kisses. He was tested at a hospital on Monday evening after feeling unwell and having a fever.
Vox leader Santiago Abascal apologized for holding the event, and criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for not canceling marches held across the country on Monday to celebrate International Womens Day, which were attended by several Cabinet ministers. The government has so far banned indoor events attended by more than 1,000 people in Madrid and two other coronavirus hotspots.
“We understood that it would have been irresponsible to generate panic by suspending a public event while the rest of the country continued to operate as normal,” Abascal said in a statement. “That was a mistake for which we apologize.”
Vox is calling for a more drastic response from the government, including the cancellation of all parliamentary sessions and border controls. Although Vox is the third largest party in the Spanish parliament, the institution will remain open and carry on with its weekly agenda, its president, Meritxell Batet, said.
Cayetana Álvarez de Toledo, spokesperson for the main opposition Popular Party, urged all Vox MPs to be tested Read More – Source
