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Spanish conservative politician shot in face in Madrid. Gunman escaped on a motorbike, reports
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MADRID: Veteran Spanish right-wing politician Alejandro Vidal-Quadras has been taken to a hospital in Madrid after being shot on a street in the capital, police said Thursday.
Police said he was shot in the face on a central street at around 1.30 pm local time and was conscious when taken to a hospital.
According to Spanish state news agency EFE, police believe the shooter was a person who escaped the scene on a motorbike wearing a black helmet.
Vidal-Quadras, 78, was a long-time member of Spain‘s conservative Popular Party, its regional leader in Catalonia, and a European Parliament member before leaving after three decades when he fell out with then Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
After he broke away, he helped found the far-right Vox party. He left Vox shortly after a failed attempt to win a European lawmaker seat in 2014.
Police are investigating the shooting and have yet to make any arrests.
Vox President Santiago Abascal said he believed Vidal-Quadras’ life wasn’t in immediate danger.
“Thank god it seems that Alejandro Vidal-Quadras is out of danger,” Abascal said.
Popular Party President Alberto Nunez Feijoo deplored the shooting and wished for his recovery.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his concern on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“All my warmth at this moment (is) for him and his family,” Sanchez said.
Vidal-Quadras hasn’t been active in politics for several years, but he has maintained a public role as a media commentator and columnist.
He served as a vice president for the European Parliament and took a heavy interest in foreign affairs, participating in the legislature’s delegations to the former Soviet republics Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Police said he was shot in the face on a central street at around 1.30 pm local time and was conscious when taken to a hospital.
According to Spanish state news agency EFE, police believe the shooter was a person who escaped the scene on a motorbike wearing a black helmet.
Vidal-Quadras, 78, was a long-time member of Spain‘s conservative Popular Party, its regional leader in Catalonia, and a European Parliament member before leaving after three decades when he fell out with then Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.
After he broke away, he helped found the far-right Vox party. He left Vox shortly after a failed attempt to win a European lawmaker seat in 2014.
Police are investigating the shooting and have yet to make any arrests.
Vox President Santiago Abascal said he believed Vidal-Quadras’ life wasn’t in immediate danger.
“Thank god it seems that Alejandro Vidal-Quadras is out of danger,” Abascal said.
Popular Party President Alberto Nunez Feijoo deplored the shooting and wished for his recovery.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his concern on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
“All my warmth at this moment (is) for him and his family,” Sanchez said.
Vidal-Quadras hasn’t been active in politics for several years, but he has maintained a public role as a media commentator and columnist.
He served as a vice president for the European Parliament and took a heavy interest in foreign affairs, participating in the legislature’s delegations to the former Soviet republics Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
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