Spanish MEP Under Investigation for Alleged Illegal Campaign Financing
Spanish law strictly limits political party donations, capping individual contributions to 50,000 euros per year and mandating that any donations exceeding 25,000 euros must be reported to the Court of Auditors. In a startling development, Spanish Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Alvise Pérez is currently under investigation for purported illegal financing linked to his far-right political party, Se Acabó la Fiesta (SALF), as the European elections approach on June 9.
The Supreme Court prosecutors initiated an investigation after discovering evidence suggestive of a crime involving a 100,000 euro cash transfer. Reports indicate that cryptocurrency entrepreneur Álvaro Romillo allegedly handed over this substantial sum to Pérez on May 27, merely days before the crucial elections. It has been revealed that Pérez contacted Romillo back in March with the intention of creating a digital wallet that would allow him to accept anonymous and encrypted funding, raising suspicions about the legality of the transactions.
Pérez himself has acknowledged receiving the 100,000 euros through Telegram, but claims that it was in his capacity as a freelancer without an invoice. He is now facing a 25% fine on the total received amount. Additionally, Pérez asserts that Romillo struck an agreement with the Public Prosecutors Office, thus avoiding pretrial detention for fraud by implicating the MEP in improperly financing his campaign.
Romillo, for his part, has presented documentation revealing ongoing communication between him and Pérez. Allegedly, Pérez informed Romillo that he required between 300,000 and 360,000 euros to effectively launch his campaign for the European Parliament. The content of these messages, as reported by the Spanish press, suggests that the MEP was actively seeking funds that could circumvent scrutiny from the Court of Auditors.
This unfolding investigation has deepened public concern regarding the integrity of the electoral financing system in Spain, where laws are designed to prevent corrupt practices and ensure transparency. The complaint made by the Association of Cryptocurrency Users against Romillo's recently dissolved business is thought to have acted as a catalyst for his subsequent accusations against Pérez, further complicating the matter.
As the case develops, it raises critical questions about campaign financing regulations in Spain and their enforcement, particularly as European elections loom large. This high-profile investigation serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by governance systems trying to keep pace with emerging technologies and funding methods in politics.
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