Spanish MEP Alvise Pérez is under investigation for allegedly receiving €100,000 in cash from cryptocurrency entrepreneur Álvaro Romillo to fund his far-right party ‘Se Acabó la Fiesta’ (SALF) ahead of the European elections. The Supreme Court prosecutors initiated an investigation after evidence of illegal financing was uncovered, as Spanish law prohibits donations of more than €50,000 per year and requires reporting donations over €25,000 to the Court of Auditors.
Pérez admitted to receiving the cash “as a freelancer without an invoice” and will face a 25 percent fine on the total amount. Romillo claims that Pérez needed between €300,000 and €360,000 for his campaign and sought untraceable funding. He provided messages indicating Pérez’s request for funds that would not be reported to the Court of Auditors.
The Association of Cryptocurrency Users’ complaint against Romillo’s closed business, Madeira Invest Club, is believed to have prompted his subsequent complaint against Pérez. Romillo’s connection to Pérez, along with evidence of the cash transfer, has raised concerns about potential illegal financing of SALF.
The investigation into Pérez’s actions highlights the need for transparency in political party funding and compliance with campaign finance laws in Spain. As the case unfolds, it will be crucial to determine whether any violations of the party financing law have occurred and to hold those involved accountable for any illegal activities.
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