Javier Ortega Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Javier Ortega Smith
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Ortega Smith in 2018
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| Secretary-General of Vox | |
| In office 5 March 2016 – 6 October 2022 |
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| President | Santiago Abascal |
| Preceded by | Iván Espinosa de los Monteros |
| Succeeded by | Ignacio Garriga |
| Member of the Congress of Deputies | |
| Assumed office 21 May 2019 |
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| Constituency | Madrid |
| Member of the City Council of Madrid | |
| Assumed office 15 June 2019 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
Francisco Javier Ortega Smith-Molina
28 August 1968 Madrid, Spain |
| Citizenship |
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| Political party | Vox (2014–present) |
| Other political affiliations |
FE de las JONS (1985–1991) |
| Spouse |
Paulina Sánchez del Río Nájera
(m. 2021) |
| Alma mater | University of Alcalá Comillas Pontifical University |
Francisco Javier Ortega Smith-Molina (born 28 August 1968) is a Spanish lawyer and politician. He was a very important person in the Vox political party. He served as its Secretary-General from 2014 to 2022. He is also a member of the Spanish Parliament, called the Congress of Deputies, and the Madrid City Council. He has held these roles since 2019.
About Javier Ortega Smith
Early Life and Family
Javier Ortega Smith was born in Madrid, Spain, on August 28, 1968. His father, Víctor Manuel Ortega Fernández-Arias, was a Spanish lawyer. His mother, Ana María Smith-Molina Robbiati, was from Argentina. Her family had English and Italian roots and was wealthy from construction.
Javier has citizenship in both Spain and Argentina. Many people in his family, including his father and grandfather, were lawyers. His three brothers work in business. Even though his family lived in a different part of Madrid, he went to the San Agustín School.
Education and Military Service
After school, Ortega Smith studied Law. He started his studies in Toledo and finished his degree at the University of Alcalá.
He also spent nine months in the military. He was part of a special operations group called COE 13. He used to practice martial arts a lot, but a knee injury stopped him from continuing.
Starting His Career as a Lawyer
Ortega Smith became a lawyer and started his own practice. In 2012, he worked as a lawyer for Santiago Abascal. This is how he met Santiago Abascal and Iván Espinosa de los Monteros, who later became important figures in the Vox party. He also worked for a group called the DENAES Foundation, which focuses on defending Spain.
Political Journey
Founding Vox and Early Elections
Javier Ortega Smith was one of the people who helped start the Vox political party. In 2013, he was named a temporary Vice-President when the party was being officially registered.
He ran for mayor of Madrid in the 2015 local elections. He also tried to become a senator for Madrid in the 2015 and 2016 national elections. However, he did not win these elections.
Important Roles in Vox
In June 2016, Ortega Smith took part in a special event in Gibraltar. He and other Vox members displayed a Spanish flag there. To avoid being arrested, he swam away from the area.
He was in charge of Vox's legal plans. He played a key role in the legal cases against leaders in Catalonia who wanted independence. These cases were heard in important courts, including the Supreme Court.
After the 2018 Andalusian regional election, Ortega Smith helped Vox make an agreement with the People's Party. This agreement helped Vox get a seat in the Parliament of Andalusia. This was a big step for the party.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
In the general election on April 28, 2019, Ortega Smith was second on the Vox list for Madrid. He was elected as a member of the 13th term of the Congress of Deputies, which is like the Spanish Parliament.
He also ran first on the Vox list for the Madrid local election on May 26, 2019. He became a city councilor in Madrid.
Changes in Leadership
In October 2022, Javier Ortega Smith was replaced as Secretary-General by Ignacio Garriga. This change happened after some internal issues within the party.
Views and Beliefs
Javier Ortega Smith has strong views on several topics.
- Military and History: He believes that Spain's history is very important and is connected to its military and religious past. He often talks about historical events, like the Battle of Lepanto in 1571, to show Spain's strength.
- European Union: He has sometimes criticized the European Union.
- Immigration: He has expressed concerns about illegal immigrants.
- Historical Figures: He has said that José Antonio Primo de Rivera was one of the "great men in history."
- International Relations: In 2012, he organized protests against the President of Argentina at the time, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. He supports Israel.
Health during the Pandemic
On March 10, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Vox announced that Ortega Smith had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. He had traveled to Italy in February and showed symptoms a few days before. He had attended a large party event where he greeted many people.
Images for kids
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Ortega Smith during a Vox rally in 2018
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See also
In Spanish: Javier Ortega Smith para niños
