Oxford Union President-Elect Removed Following Charlie Kirk Posts

Student society event
The activist and student leader took part in a debate at the student society in May

The future president of the prestigious debating society has been removed from his position after failing a no-confidence vote that followed his controversial online comments about the conservative activist.

The vote against the student leader reached the necessary two-thirds threshold to remove him from office, according to an announcement from the society.

Disputed Comments

The dispute erupted after the student reportedly shared messages on online platforms that appeared to celebrate the killing of the American conservative figure, who was shot dead while speaking at a college in Utah.

According to reports, one Instagram post reportedly stated "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an extended form of the phrase 'lol'.

The student leader is also said to have posted in a messaging group with fellow students appearing to welcome the incident.

Vote Outcome

The vote of confidence took place over the recent days, with outcomes revealed on this week.

Society announcements showed that over twelve hundred votes were cast supporting no confidence, while 501 were opposed the motion.

The notice stated that the future president was deemed to have stepped down in following the Oxford Union's rules.

Oxford Union announcement
The Oxford Union announced the result of the confidence motion on Tuesday morning

Procedural Disputes

Proceedings were temporarily halted early on the previous day after the election official was allegedly subjected to "obstruction, intimidation, and unwarranted hostility" from several representatives.

In a response, the student asserted that the vote tally had been stopped because electoral officials believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of procedural failures".

His response unequivocally denied that any person appointed by George had participated in intimidating or disruptive behavior.

Ongoing Dispute

The student maintained that significant concerns had been referred to the governing body and that he continued as the elected leader.

His comment added that he was "proud and thankful to have the support of significantly more than half of students at Oxford" who supported a "secure voting process and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

Critics have argued that any failure to remove him would "demonstrate internationally that the society has chosen ideology over integrity".

Charlie Kirk speaking
Charlie Kirk was shot dead while addressing a college in last month

External Reactions

On recently, Mikey McCoy read out an public message to the society on a related program podcast.

The message accused the union of becoming a place where "presidents of the union openly applaud the assassination of a ideological rival".

The statement indicated that if Mr Abaraonye were to remain in post, supporters would "directly reach out to every U.S. political figure who has ever spoken at the society and urge them never again to lend their name".

The Oxford Union had previously criticized the student's remarks after Kirk's death and confirmed that concerns filed against him had been forwarded for disciplinary proceedings.

The student leader had been one of several students to debate with Kirk at the union in May.

Mary Nunez
Mary Nunez

A tech enthusiast and writer passionate about AI innovations and storytelling.