Oxford Union Future Leader Removed Following Charlie Kirk Posts
The president-elect of the Oxford Union has been ousted from office after failing a no-confidence vote that came after his disputed online comments about the conservative activist.
The vote against George Abaraonye reached the necessary super-majority to remove him from office, according to an statement from the organization.
Disputed Comments
The controversy erupted after the student reportedly shared messages on social media that appeared to celebrate the death of the American conservative figure, who was fatally shot while addressing a college in the United States.
According to reports, one Instagram post reportedly read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the acronym for 'laughing out loud'.
The student leader is also said to have posted in a messaging group with other members appearing to welcome the incident.
Vote Outcome
The no-confidence motion took place over the recent days, with outcomes revealed on Tuesday.
Society announcements showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast in favor of no confidence, while just over five hundred were against the motion.
The announcement stated that the future president was deemed to have resigned in following the society's regulations.
Election Controversies
Voting operations were informally suspended early on Monday after the returning officer was reportedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from several representatives.
In a statement, the student claimed that the count had been stopped because election administrators believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of procedural failures".
His response categorically refuted that any person acting for George 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 president-elect.
His comment added that George was "grateful and honored to have the support of well in excess of a majority of university members" who voted to have 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 recently, Kirk's former chief of staff read out an open letter to the society on The Charlie Kirk Show broadcast.
The message criticized the society of becoming a institution where "student leaders openly applaud the killing of a political opponent".
The communication indicated that if the student were to keep his position, Kirk's allies would "personally contact every American political speaker who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".
The society had previously criticized the student's comments after the activist's killing and confirmed that complaints submitted about him had been referred for official review.
The president-elect had been one of multiple members to debate with the activist at the union in spring.