Else Beekman
On Sunday, political influencer Alvise Pérez officially launched ‘Se Acabó La Fiesta’ (SALF) as a political party. Herewith, he unveiled a hardline anti-immigration agenda that includes what he called “the largest mass deportation plan” in Spanish history.
The launche took place at the Palacio de Vistalegre in Madrid in front of over 5,000 attendees, according to the organisation. Alvise Pérez is a former political adviser who turned social media activist. He rose to prominence by denouncing Spain’s political elite through viral videos and posts. In 2023 his party SALF (Se Acabó La Fiesta, or “The Party’s Over”) began as a citizen platform and shocked many by winning three seats in the 2024 European elections. His success relied heavily on social media engagement, populist messaging, and a salary lottery used to boost his online following.
“Spain’s streets are no longer safe”
Pérez, who secured three seats in the European Parliament in 2024 through his citizen platform, claimed that Spain’s streets “are no longer safe” and alleged that “foreigners commit crimes at triple the rate of Spaniards”, a claim not supported by official crime data. His rhetoric mirrors that of far-right party Vox, though Pérez attempted to differentiate himself with proposals that go even further.
Among the most controversial was his pledge to construct a mega-prison modelled after the one built by President Nayib Bukele in El Salvador. The facility, he said, would house repeat offenders and those convicted of serious crimes. “It is immoral for Spaniards to spend €30,000 a year per prisoner while inmates enjoy gyms and pools we ourselves can’t afford,” Pérez told the crowd.
Radical proposals and echoing Vox
In a speech punctuated by populist themes, Pérez also laid out sweeping changes to criminal justice policy. He proposed:
- Amending the Penal Code so that corruption crimes do not expire
- Denying convicts privileges such as parole unless they return 100% of stolen funds
- Confiscating assets from relatives who benefited from illicit gains
“We will pursue you to the end of your days,” he vowed.
Pérez also echoed Vox’s hard stance on illegal squatting (okupación), promising immediate eviction policies and framing the act as breaking and entering, punishable with prison. He quipped, “We will evict all the okupas across the country—except Pedro Sánchez, the okupa of Moncloa.”
Spain extends ban on evictions that unintentionally also protects squatters
His platform combines far-right positions with anti-establishment messages, including calls to:
- Ban public funding for political parties, trade unions, and media
- Cut 200,000 public sector jobs through artificial intelligence
- Abolish income tax for those earning under €35,000 per year
- Hold a referendum on Spain’s EU membership
- Create a hypothetical union of “Hispanic American States” that he claims could become “the world’s third-largest economy”
Controversy and theatrics
The event was not without spectacle. A skit featured a man dressed as former minister José Luis Ábalos hiring a woman named “Jésica”, portrayed with exaggerated sexualised characteristics. The parody ended with the Ábalos impersonator being handcuffed by two fake security officers, drawing loud applause from the audience.
Chants of “Pedro Sánchez, son of a b****” also rang out during the rally, an outburst Pérez did not publicly condemn.
Pérez revealed members of his new Executive Committee and announced the creation of ‘Escrutinia 2.0’, an AI-powered vote-monitoring software. The tool, he claimed, would offer a parallel count to that of media and official institutions like Indra, alleging that electoral fraud is systemic in Spain. “This time, we’re ready,” he said. “The fraud ends now.”
Legal issues and broken promises
Despite his populist appeal, Pérez faces mounting legal troubles. The Supreme Court recently opened a fourth investigation against him, this time for alleged harassment and breach of privacy involving two fellow SALF MEPs—Diego Adrián and Nora Junco, who split from the party shortly after the election.
He also faces three additional legal proceedings:
- For allegedly threatening Valencia’s hate crime prosecutor via Telegram
- For receiving €100,000 from a crypto entrepreneur for his European campaign
- For publishing a fake COVID-19 test allegedly linked to Catalan president Salvador Illa
Meanwhile, Pérez attempted to revive a broken campaign promise: the lottery of his MEP salary. Instead of continuing the monthly raffles he halted after three months, he awarded a €50,000 cheque to a police orphans’ foundation based on social media engagement.
From anti-system to mainstream?
The choice of venue, Vistalegre, once associated with left-wing party Podemos, symbolised Pérez’s attempt to claim the anti-system mantle from both ends of the political spectrum. SALF member Juan Urruticoechea compared the party’s ambition to Apple under Steve Jobs, arguing that “what’s rotten is the system, not the person in office.”
Alvise Pérez’s political rise has been marked by controversy, social media savvy, and disruptive messaging. Whether SALF becomes a lasting force in Spanish politics remains to be seen, but Pérez is positioning himself as a polarising figure ahead of the next general election.