David Ortega (politician)
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David Ortega Gutiérrez (born 1966)[1] is a Spanish academic and former politician. He served on the City Council of Madrid from 2011 to 2015, as leader of the Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) group.
Biography[edit]
Ortega was born in Madrid and raised in its Estrella neighbourhood.[1] He graduated in law from the Autonomous University of Madrid and completed a doctorate in political sciences at the same institution, with studies at the University of Oxford, Georgetown University and McMaster University along the way.[2] He has a further master's degree in philosophy from the Francisco de Vitoria University and was a substitute judge in Torrejón de Ardoz from 2000 to 2001.[2][3] He became a professor of constitutional law at the King Juan Carlos University.[3]
Ortega attended the first congress of Union, Progress and Democracy (UPyD) in November 2009.[4] A year later, he was chosen as their nominee for mayor of Madrid in the 2011 Madrid City Council election.[3] His party came fourth with 7.85% of the vote, earning five seats on the council.[5]
During his term in office, Ortega and his party returned the official cars and chauffeurs granted to them, as per their campaign promises.[6] He also opposed Madrid's candidacy for the 2020 Summer Olympics, citing a survey showing 76% opposition across the capital.[7]
Ortega retained his candidacy for the 2015 Madrid City Council election, taking over 80% of votes cast, though just over a quarter of registered UPyD members voted.[8] The party lost all its seats and he left its national executive.[9][10] He left the party fully at the end of 2015, saying that it had failed in the general election by its own errors.[11]
References[edit]
- ^ a b Gasparet, M. (16 May 2015). "El 'gentleman' que desafía a los sondeos" [The 'gentleman' who challenged the polls]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ a b Platón, Núria (7 January 2015). "David Ortega: «Prefiero perder concejales y ser llave de Gobierno»" [David Ortega: "I prefer to lose councillors and be the kingmaker"]. La Razón (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ a b c "UPyD elige a Velasco y Ortega como candidatos a Comunidad y Ayuntamiento" [UPyD chooses Velasco and Ortega as candidates for Community and City Hall]. El Mundo (in Spanish). EFE. 23 October 2010. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Ortega Gutiérrez, David (24 November 2009). "I Congreso de UPyD" [1st UPyD Congress]. El Imparcial (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Gutiérrez Calvo, Vera; Santaeulalia, Inés (23 May 2011). "UPyD entra con fuerza en Madrid" [UPyD enters with force in Madrid]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Bécares, Roberto (31 May 2011). "UPyD renuncia a los coches oficiales y deja en evidencia al resto de grupos" [UPyD renounce official cars and expose the rest of the groups]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Se aprueba la candidatura de Madrid para los JJOO del 2020 con el rechazo de IU y UPyD" [Madrid candidacy for the 2020 Olympics approved with the rejection of IU and UPyD]. Público (in Spanish). 20 July 2011. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ Palomino, Sonia (18 October 2014). "Ramón Marcos y David Ortega, candidatos de UPyD en la Comunidad y el Ayuntamiento de Madrid" [Ramón Marcos and David Ortega, UPyD candidates in the Community and the City Council of Madrid] (in Spanish). Cadena SER. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "Rosa Díez dejará la dirección de UPyD tras los malos resultados en las elecciones autonómicas" [Rosa Díez will leave the leadership of the UPyD after the bad results in autonomous elections] (in Spanish). RTVE. 24 May 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "David Ortega abandona el Consejo de Dirección de UPyD" [David Ortega leaves the UPyD executive] (in Spanish). Madridiario. 12 June 2015. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
- ^ "David Ortega se dio de baja de UPyD en diciembre y Ramón Marcos está desligado del partido" [David Ortega quit the UPyD in December and Ramón Marcos is separated from the party] (in Spanish). Europa Press. 8 February 2016. Retrieved 28 April 2024.