In an era where discontent and distrust towards politicians are on the rise, new political outsiders are emerging as potential candidates to win over disenchanted voters who tend to abstain from participating in European elections. One such figure is Alvise Pérez, a social media personality in Spain who recently collected the required signatures to run in the European elections by mobilizing his large online following. Pérez has gained popularity by denouncing alleged corruption in politics and advocating for institutional and moral reform in Spain and Europe.
Despite some of his ideas aligning with the far right, Pérez claims that he attacks all political parties regardless of ideology, focusing primarily on fighting corruption. His candidacy, named ‘Se acabó la fiesta’ (the party is over), has managed to generate significant attention in Spain and could potentially secure a parliamentary seat in Strasbourg. Inspired by successful political outsiders in other countries, Pérez aims to challenge the existing system from the outside and bring about change.
Pérez’s campaign for the European elections relies heavily on his online community, with millions of subscribers and daily views across various social media platforms. He has promised to involve his supporters in decision-making processes, including raffling his MEP salary among them and potential referendums on Spain’s relationship with the EU. By engaging his community in a digital and guerrilla campaign, Pérez hopes to mobilize disenchanted voters who feel alienated by the political system.
One of the key challenges for Pérez and other political outsiders is reaching out to the abstentionist vote in European elections, where voter turnout tends to be lower compared to national elections. Despite the opportunity to attract voters dissatisfied with traditional parties, many still choose to abstain from voting. In Spain, nearly 50% of the electorate abstains in European elections, presenting a significant hurdle for candidates like Pérez who seek to mobilize these disenchanted voters.
In addition to Alvise Pérez, another anti-establishment candidate in Spain’s European elections is Luis María Pardo of the Iustitia Europa party. Pardo, known for his activism against COVID-19 restrictions, criticizes the lockdown measures and vaccination mandates imposed during the pandemic. The party aims to capture votes from citizens dissatisfied with the current political system, particularly regarding the decisions made at the European level that impact everyday life.
Overall, both Alvise Pérez and Luis María Pardo represent a growing trend of political outsiders challenging the established political order in European elections. By leveraging their online communities and addressing issues such as corruption, institutional reform, and citizens’ rights, these candidates hope to mobilize disenchanted voters and bring fresh perspectives to the political landscape. Whether they succeed in securing parliamentary seats and influencing policy decisions remains to be seen, but their presence highlights a shift towards more unconventional political candidates in Europe.
