David Ortega (politician) explained

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

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]

Notes and References

1. News: Gasparet . M. . El 'gentleman' que desafía a los sondeos. The 'gentleman' who challenged the polls . 28 April 2024 . . 16 May 2015 . Spanish.
2. News: Platón . Núria . David Ortega: «Prefiero perder concejales y ser llave de Gobierno». David Ortega: "I prefer to lose councillors and be the kingmaker" . 28 April 2024 . . 7 January 2015 . Spanish.
3. News: UPyD elige a Velasco y Ortega como candidatos a Comunidad y Ayuntamiento. UPyD chooses Velasco and Ortega as candidates for Community and City Hall. 28 April 2024 . El Mundo . . 23 October 2010 . Spanish.
4. News: Ortega Gutiérrez . David . I Congreso de UPyD. 1st UPyD Congress . 28 April 2024 . El Imparcial . 24 November 2009 . Spanish.
5. News: Gutiérrez Calvo . Vera . Santaeulalia . Inés . UPyD entra con fuerza en Madrid. UPyD enters with force in Madrid . 28 April 2024 . . 23 May 2011 . Spanish.
6. News: Bécares . Roberto . 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 . 28 April 2024 . El Mundo . 31 May 2011 . Spanish.
7. News: 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 . 28 April 2024 . . 20 July 2011 . Spanish.
8. News: Palomino . Sonia . 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 . 28 April 2024 . . 18 October 2014 . Spanish.
9. News: 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 . 28 April 2024 . . 24 May 2015 . Spanish.
10. News: David Ortega abandona el Consejo de Dirección de UPyD. David Ortega leaves the UPyD executive. 28 April 2024 . Madridiario . 12 June 2015 . Spanish.
11. News: 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. 28 April 2024 . Europa Press . 8 February 2016 . Spanish.