The European Parliament has launched a second process to lift the parliamentary immunity of Luis Pérez, better known as Alvise. This follows a request from Spain’s Supreme Court, which seeks to investigate possible irregularities in the funding of the Se Acabó La Fiesta (SALF) political party, led by Pérez.
This was announced by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola at the start of the latest plenary session in Brussels. She did not specify which of the ongoing cases involving Pérez this new procedure relates to. The first process was initiated in October last year at the request of the Spanish authorities and is currently being reviewed by the Legal Affairs Committee. Now, a second request has been added.
The European Parliament’s internal procedures require each such case to go through several stages. First, the case is referred to a committee, where a rapporteur from among the MPs is appointed. The committee may request additional materials and also summon the person involved. Pérez will have the opportunity to present documents and explanations in his defense. After that, the committee drafts a recommendation, which is then put to a vote before the full parliament. The decision is made by a simple majority.
Investigations and new accusations
The Supreme Court of Spain is handling four separate cases against Alvise. Each of them requires individual review by the European Parliament. These requests are usually processed as they arrive. In July last year, the court had already asked for permission to investigate Pérez on suspicion of cyberstalking Valencia prosecutor Susana Gisbert. In October, another request was filed—this time concerning the possible receipt of €100,000 from a businessman to finance the SALF campaign in the European parliamentary elections.
In addition, Pérez is suspected of distributing a fake COVID-19 test allegedly belonging to former Health Minister and current head of the Catalan government, Salvador Illa. He also faces charges of leaking confidential information and harassing two former party colleagues—Diego Soler and Nora Junco. Both took part in the 2024 elections alongside Pérez but later publicly broke ties with him, accusing him of pressure tactics and defamation, and have taken him to court.
Political repercussions and next steps
While Pérez remains unaffiliated in the European Parliament, his former colleagues have already joined the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, led by Giorgia Meloni. The procedures for lifting immunity are conducted in strict secrecy to prevent leaks and political speculation. A final decision will be made at a plenary session after all formal stages are completed.
The situation surrounding Alvise Pérez could set a precedent for other cases involving the lifting of immunity from Members of the European Parliament. In the coming months, it will become clear how the parliament will respond to the demands of the Spanish court and what consequences this will have for Pérez’s political career and his party.
