An internal audio recording has thrown uncertainty over the future of Gonzalo de Oro as Vox's mayoral candidate for Barcelona in the 2027 municipal elections. The recording, obtained by Metrópoli, features Miguel Martínez, a Vox councillor for Sants-Montjuïc, claiming he will be the party's candidate.
Martínez states in the recording, "The 2027 candidate will be me. Garriga already told me, forget about Gonzalo." He further alleges that Ignacio Garriga, Vox's general secretary, "wanted to get rid of Gonzalo for a long time." Martínez also claims to have "instructions to dynamite this," referring to the current Vox municipal group in Barcelona.
He suggests the party intends to treat de Oro similarly to how Santiago Abascal, Vox's national leader, removed Javier Ortega Smith from responsibilities. Abascal eventually expelled Ortega Smith for refusing to relinquish his spokesperson role in Madrid City Council, as El Español reported, according to Metrópoli obtained the recording. The recording concludes with Martínez stating, "The important thing here is that Gonzalo will be splashed, and that is what interests us."
Vox Denies Audio Authenticity
Sources within Vox have dismissed the audio as "false" and "self-serving." They believe it aims "to generate conflict within the Vox municipal group." "We do not give it credibility; we believe it is artificial intelligence," party sources stated. They added, "The author is not recognised; we believe this is part of a harassment campaign against him," referring to Councillor Martínez.
These sources also confirmed that "at no point has it been suggested that Miguel would be a candidate for mayor." Metrópoli used two AI voice verification technologies, ElevenLabs and TruthScan, to analyse the recording. ElevenLabs indicated a 2% probability of AI generation, while TruthScan put the figure at 14%. Martínez declined to comment when Metrópoli asked him about the matter.
Previous Investigations into Councillor Martínez
This incident follows a previous internal investigation into Martínez's conduct. A Vox militant disrupted a Sants-Montjuïc District Council meeting in March, shouting at Martínez and distributing leaflets. The leaflets demanded clarification on "any inappropriate behaviour" by Martínez towards women.
El País reported that the militant referenced an investigation requested by María Visitación Yerbes, a former Vox district councillor in Horta-Guinardó, and Francisco García, a former head of party affiliation in Barcelona province. Both individuals had questioned Martínez's behaviour within the party. Vox sources indicate the investigation concluded without evidence to support the accusations.
They did find that "a person within the party had pressured to falsely accuse Martínez of sexual assault." A second investigation by the national leadership also found no fault in the councillor's conduct. Party sources confirm they have reported this "harassment campaign," including the recent audio, to the Mossos d'Esquadra. The matter has not yet proceeded to court.
Martínez's Public Profile and Political Journey
Miguel Martínez gained public attention earlier last decade as a lookalike for footballer Leo Messi. He also became a prominent critic of the independence movement during the height of the 'procés'. Martínez was the ideologist and president of Plataforma por Tabarnia, a movement advocating for Catalonia to remain part of Spain.
In 2021, the now-defunct Valents party appointed him as a district councillor in Sants-Montjuïc. He was on Valents' lists for the 2023 municipal elections. After Valents failed to secure representation, Martínez joined Vox, retaining his political role.
With municipal elections still over a year away, the internal conflict within Vox Barcelona highlights ongoing tensions. The party faces the challenge of presenting a united front amidst these allegations and leadership questions. The use of AI voice technology in political disputes also raises new concerns for future campaigns.
Sign up for our new entrepreneurs community Bizcelona, now accepting our second wave of applicants.
Originally published by Metrópoli Abierta - Urban Life. Read original article.
