Supreme Court Investigates MEP Luis Alvise Pérez Over Allegations of Financial Misconduct and False Claims
The Supreme Court of Spain has decided to initiate two significant investigations against Member of the European Parliament Luis Alvise Pérez. The allegations include illegal financing related to his political party and the dissemination of false information regarding the current president of Catalonia, Salvador Illa. Prior to proceeding, the court must obtain authorization from the European Parliament, as Pérez is affiliated with the political group 'Se Acabó La Fiesta' (SALI).
The Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court has agreed to open preliminary proceedings after uncovering indications of potential crimes including fraud, embezzlement, money laundering, and document falsification. This decision follows a reasoned request from National Court judge José Luis Calama, which stated that Pérez should be investigated for alleged illegal financing connected to a notable sum of €100,000 that he reportedly received from businessman Álvaro Romillo, also known as Cryptospain.
The situation surrounding the false PCR test results concerning Illa has been under scrutiny since 2021. Initially, these claims were investigated by Instruction Court Number 33 in Barcelona, but following Pérez's election to the European Parliament, the Supreme Court assumed jurisdiction in the matter. Last September, the Catalan court referred the case to the Supreme Court, albeit with procedural issues that have since delayed proceedings.
Additionally, the Supreme Court has declined to pursue charges against Pérez for alleged public disorder related to protests against amnesty measures that occurred near the PSOE headquarters in Madrid late last year. This series of events is not the sole legal trouble facing Pérez; the head of Instruction Court Number 18 in Seville has forward documents to the Supreme Court for prosecution regarding Pérez's alleged threats against a judge. Furthermore, a complaint has emerged from socialist deputy Javier Alfonso Cendón accusing Pérez of defamation, stemming from comments made on his Telegram channel linking Cendón to the ongoing Tito Berni case.
In a separate instance, Vox has lodged a complaint regarding Pérez's comments suggesting their leader, Santiago Abascal, may have received funds from the same cryptocurrency company operated by Romillo. However, the Supreme Court opted to dismiss these claims as the remarks expressed suspicions rather than straightforward accusations.
The Seville Court is also examining a complaint from the prosecution regarding a post by Pérez on his Telegram channel that included a private photograph of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's daughter sourced from her personal Instagram, calling into question matters of privacy and the revelation of secrets.
Pérez's legal representatives and supporters maintain that the judicial proceedings are misguided, pointing to a prior official assertion of his innocence by the European Parliament. They argue that the ruling from the European Parliament arrived before the formal indictment, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the charges. Supporters claim that the complexities of Spanish judicial processes and timelines contribute to public confusion, particularly in light of the European investigation's conclusions that deemed there were no irregularities or corrupt practices.
Pérez’s Telegram channel expressed skepticism toward the media and the prosecution, stating, 'Only fools believe the media and the prosecution charged with Pedro Sánchez.' They continued to assert that while the judicial process must unfold according to established protocols, the ongoing situation suggests a likely delay in reaching a definitive verdict until after the upcoming General Elections. This perspective raises further questions about the intersection of political maneuvering and legal proceedings in Spain, particularly as public attention remains focused on these multifaceted cases.
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