🔗 Share this article

The future president of the Oxford Union has been removed from his position after losing a vote of confidence that came after his disputed social media posts about Charlie Kirk.

The vote against George Abaraonye achieved the required super-majority to remove him from office, according to an statement from the organization.

Contentious Posts

The controversy began after the student reportedly shared messages on online platforms that appeared to welcome the death of Charlie Kirk, who was shot dead while addressing a college in Utah.

According to sources, one Instagram post reportedly read "Charlie Kirk got shot loool" - using an elongated version of the phrase 'lol'.

The student leader is also reported to have posted in a WhatsApp chat with fellow students seeming to welcome the incident.

Election Results

The vote of confidence took place over the weekend, with results revealed on Tuesday.

Society announcements showed that 1,228 ballots were cast supporting removal, while just over five hundred were opposed the motion.

The notice confirmed that the future president was deemed to have resigned in accordance with the society's regulations.

Procedural Disputes

Proceedings were informally suspended early on the previous day after the returning officer was allegedly subjected to "interference, threats, and inappropriate behavior" from multiple individuals.

In a response, Mr Abaraonye claimed that the count had been stopped because election administrators believed "no legitimate and true result could be reached as a result of process errors".

His statement unequivocally denied that any person appointed by the student had engaged in threatening or obstructive conduct.

Ongoing Dispute

The president-elect stated that significant concerns had been referred to the disciplinary committee and that he continued as president-elect.

His comment added that he was "grateful and honored to have the backing of well in excess of a majority of students at Oxford" who supported a "safe election and oppose efforts to undermine the electoral process".

Opponents have argued that any decision to keep him would "demonstrate internationally that the Oxford Union has prioritized politics over principles".

External Reactions

On Friday, Kirk's former chief of staff presented an open letter to the society on The Charlie Kirk Show podcast.

The message accused the union of becoming a institution where "presidents of the union openly applaud the killing of a political opponent".

The communication indicated that if the student were to remain in post, supporters would "personally contact every U.S. political figure who has ever graced the union's chamber and urge them never again to lend their name".

The society had previously criticized Mr Abaraonye's remarks after the activist's killing and confirmed that complaints submitted about him had been referred for official review.

The student leader had been one of multiple members to discuss with Kirk at the union in spring.