The Spanish 'Squirrels' who traded social media clout for European seats

Countries & Cities · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Alvise Pérez built a political movement from a Telegram channel, transforming a community of anonymous followers into a parliamentary force. By leveraging a narrative of systemic corruption and anti-establishment fervor, he bypassed traditional campaigning to secure three seats in the European Parliament.

Founded in early 2024, Se Acabó La Fiesta (SALF) emerged from Alvise Pérez's massive online presence. Pérez, a former member of centrist liberal parties like Ciudadanos and the UK's Liberal Democrats, pivoted toward an anti-establishment stance following his 2019 dismissal from the Citizens party. His movement is defined by its 'squirrels'—collaborators who send him documents alleging irregularities by politicians and businessmen. This grassroots intelligence model allowed SALF to launch a campaign that avoided expensive traditional rallies in favor of direct social media engagement.

The party’s rise was marked by significant friction with the political establishment. During the 2024 European Parliament election, Pérez faced accusations of spreading misinformation and being a far-right populist. He countered these claims by framing them as a coordinated 'persecution campaign' by the media and the state to silence his fight against corruption networks. Despite multiple legal complaints from high-profile figures like Ana Pastor and former ministers, several rulings—including one in which Pérez was forced to pay €60,000—were revoked or settled in his favor.

While SALF successfully secured three seats in 2024 with 4.6% of the vote, internal fractures appeared quickly. By May 2025, two MEPs left the party following Pérez's accusations that they were influenced by lobbies. The party’s platform remains a mix of economic liberalism and hardline stances on immigration, child protection, and republicanism. It continues to navigate a complex identity: while Pérez describes his ideology as balancing maximum personal liberty with necessary state functions, critics consistently categorize the movement as far-right.

The group's electoral momentum has cooled since its initial breakthrough. In 2026 regional elections across Aragon, Castile-León, and Andalusia, SALF failed to secure any seats, receiving between 1.4% and 2.73% of the vote in each respective region.

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