Oxford Union President-Elect Ousted Due to Conservative Activist Posts
The future president of the Oxford Union has been ousted from office after losing a vote of confidence that followed his disputed online comments about Charlie Kirk.
The motion against George Abaraonye reached the required two-thirds threshold to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the society.
Contentious Posts
The controversy began after the student reportedly posted messages on online platforms that seemed to welcome the death of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while addressing a college in the United States.
According to sources, one social media message reportedly read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.
The president-elect is also reported to have written in a messaging group with other members seeming to express approval of the event.
Vote Outcome
The no-confidence motion took place over the recent days, with results announced on this week.
Society announcements indicated that 1,228 ballots were cast supporting no confidence, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.
The announcement stated that the president-elect was deemed to have resigned in accordance with the Oxford Union's rules.
Procedural Disputes
Voting operations were informally suspended early on Monday after the election official was allegedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from several representatives.
In a response, the student asserted that the vote tally had been stopped because electoral officials believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of procedural failures".
His statement unequivocally denied that any representative appointed by George had participated in intimidating or disruptive behavior.
Ongoing Dispute
The student maintained that significant concerns had been referred to the disciplinary committee and that he continued as the elected leader.
His comment added that he was "proud and thankful to have the backing of well in excess of a majority of university members" who supported a "secure voting process and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".
Critics have argued that any decision to keep him would "demonstrate internationally that the Oxford Union has prioritized politics over principles".
External Responses
On Friday, Kirk's former chief of staff read out an public message to the Oxford Union on a related program podcast.
The message accused the union of becoming a institution where "student leaders openly applaud the killing of a ideological rival".
The communication warned that if the student were to keep his position, Kirk's allies would "directly reach out to every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".
The Oxford Union had previously condemned the student's comments after Kirk's death and stated that concerns submitted about him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.
The student leader had been one of several students to debate with Kirk at the union in spring.
