Oxford Union President-Elect Removed Due to Conservative Activist Comments
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 the conservative activist.
The vote against George Abaraonye reached the required two-thirds threshold to remove him from office, according to an statement from the organization.
Disputed Comments
The controversy began after Mr Abaraonye reportedly shared messages on social media that seemed to celebrate the killing of the American conservative figure, who was fatally shot while speaking at a college in the United States.
According to sources, one Instagram post reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an elongated version of the phrase 'lol'.
The president-elect is also said to have posted in a messaging group with fellow students appearing to express approval of the event.
Election Results
The vote of confidence was conducted over the recent days, with outcomes revealed on Tuesday.
Society announcements showed that 1,228 ballots were cast supporting no confidence, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.
The announcement confirmed that the president-elect was considered to have stepped down in following the society's regulations.
Procedural Disputes
Voting operations were informally suspended early on Monday after the election official was reportedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from multiple individuals.
In a statement, the student claimed that the vote tally had been halted because election administrators believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of procedural failures".
His statement categorically refuted that any person appointed by the student had participated in intimidating or disruptive behavior.
Ongoing Dispute
The student stated that significant concerns had been referred to the disciplinary committee and that he remained the elected leader.
His statement added that he was "grateful and honored to have the backing of significantly more than half of students at Oxford" who voted to have a "safe election and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".
Critics have said that any decision to keep him would "demonstrate internationally that the society has prioritized politics over principles".
External Reactions
On Friday, Kirk's former chief of staff presented an open letter to the Oxford Union on a related program broadcast.
The message criticized the union of becoming a institution where "presidents of the union publicly celebrate the killing of a ideological rival".
The statement indicated that if the student were to remain in post, Kirk's allies would "personally contact every American political speaker who has ever graced the union's chamber and advise them against future participation".
The society had earlier criticized Mr Abaraonye's remarks after the activist's killing and stated that complaints submitted about him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.
The president-elect had been one of several students to debate with Kirk at the society in spring.