MEP Luis Pérez Alvise Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Illegal Campaign Financing
The Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office has moved to indict Luis Pérez Alvise, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), in a case involving alleged illegal financing of his electoral campaign. Reports suggest that Alvise may have received 100,000 euros from a businessman for this purpose. According to fiscal sources and information shared with EFE, the public prosecutor has requested National Court Judge José Luis Calama to prepare a reasoned report for submission to the Supreme Court, which holds jurisdiction due to Alvise’s parliamentary privileges.
Not long ago, Alvise declined to appear voluntarily before the National Court when summoned by Judge Calama. Initially, his defense team indicated that he intended to cooperate, but later, they communicated his decision to withdraw. In contrast, businessman Álvaro Romillo, who is also linked to an ongoing investigation regarding alleged fraudulent activities associated with the investment platform Madeira Invest, did appear and confirmed his statement before the court. Romillo asserted that he had provided Alvise with 100,000 euros for his campaign during the recent European elections held on May 27.
The testimony from Romillo has prompted the Prosecutor's Office to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court for potential investigation concerning Alvise. Judge Calama expressed initial credibility in Romillo's accusations, suggesting that Alvise could be categorized as a necessary accomplice in the purported fraud tied to Madeira Invest, given his alleged role in endorsing the illicit operations associated with the investment platform.
Romillo's complaint included details about numerous communications with Alvise, with the businessman proposing that together they could secure funding for Alvise's campaign without interference from state authorities. In one of the exchanges, Romillo informed Alvise of the possibility to raise the cash, to which Alvise allegedly responded, "You enable me an urgent part of the campaign. Thanks a lot, dude."
Following the emergence of these allegations, Alvise publicly acknowledged his shortcomings, admitting to receiving payment for his services as a self-employed individual without the appropriate invoicing. He went on to encourage his followers to engage in tax insubordination and expressed a belief that he would escape accountability, framing the charges as mere slander stemming from a fragmented narrative of a supplementary tax notice.
As the procedural review continues, Judge Calama noted the implications of Alvise's parliamentary privilege but underscored that this does not equate to a formal indictment at this stage. Moving forward, it remains to be seen whether the investigation will be formally initiated in the high court, particularly given the seriousness of the allegations and their potential impact on Alvise's political career.
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