Student Society President-Elect Ousted Due to Charlie Kirk Posts
The future president of the prestigious debating society has been removed from his position after failing a vote of confidence that followed his controversial social media posts about the conservative activist.
The motion against George Abaraonye reached the necessary two-thirds threshold to oust him from his position, according to an announcement from the organization.
Disputed Comments
The dispute erupted after the student reportedly shared messages on social media that seemed to welcome the death of the American conservative figure, who was shot dead while speaking at a college in the United States.
According to sources, one Instagram post reportedly stated "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 express approval of the event.
Election Results
The no-confidence motion took place over the weekend, with outcomes revealed on this week.
Society announcements indicated that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting no confidence, while just over five hundred were against the motion.
The notice stated that the president-elect was deemed to have resigned in accordance with the Oxford Union's rules.
Election Controversies
Proceedings were temporarily halted early on Monday after the returning officer was allegedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from several representatives.
In a statement, the student asserted that the count had been stopped because electoral officials believed "no valid outcome could be reached as a result of procedural failures".
His response categorically refuted that any representative appointed by the student had engaged in intimidating or disruptive behavior.
Continuing Controversy
The president-elect stated that significant concerns had been submitted to the governing body and that he remained the elected leader.
His comment added that George was "proud and thankful to have the support of well in excess of a majority of university members" who supported a "secure voting process and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".
Opponents have said that any failure to remove him would "demonstrate internationally that the society has chosen ideology over integrity".
External Responses
On recently, Mikey McCoy presented an public message to the society on The Charlie Kirk Show broadcast.
The message criticized the union of becoming a place where "presidents of the union openly applaud the assassination of a ideological rival".
The communication warned that if Mr Abaraonye 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 criticized the student's remarks after the activist's killing and stated that concerns filed against him had been referred for official review.
The president-elect had been one of several students to debate with Kirk at the society in May.