Alvise draws huge crowd in Valencia and pledges to raffle his salary

Alvise draws huge crowd in Valencia and pledges to raffle his salary

A crowd, whose size has not been independently verified and which organisers put at tens of thousands of people, welcomed Alvise Pérez in Valencia. The event, held in the context of the 29-N campaign, exceeded all expectations and produced an unusual sight: a politician with no territorial structure and no prior seats mobilising a crowd that chanted his name. Alvise himself summed it up on social media: "I have no words to thank you for the affection I am receiving across this wonderful country." Attendance estimates come from the organisers.

The scene is not a conventional rally. It is a phenomenon blending disaffection, social media and a discourse presented as an alternative to the system. The question hanging over the event is whether that enthusiasm will translate into votes on 29-N or remain a burst of goodwill.

What lies behind the promise to raffle his salary?

Alvise has promised to raffle his salary as an MP among his trinc. The proposal, which he himself has publicised, has generated expectation and scepticism in equal measure. It is not a conventional economic measure: it is a gesture aimed at breaking down the distance between representative and voter. The question is whether it is a verifiable promise or a campaign gimmick. To date, there is no public record that the raffle has taken place.

The gesture fits his profile: a discourse appealing to ordinary people against the elites. But it also raises questions about the nature of the political relationship he proposes. Is it a legitimate incentive or a way of buying media attention?

The arrival in Valencia and the DANA context

The Valencia event comes at a time when the Valencian Community is still recovering from the effects of the DANA (the October 2024 flooding disaster). Alvise has linked his presence to the catastrophe and has promised to "give everything" to those affected, without specifying the terms of that promise. The combination of campaigning and emergency has raised misgivings among those who feel the pain is being exploited.

The mobilisation of a crowd in a city still bearing scars is a political fact that cannot be ignored. It is also a challenge for the traditional parties, which are watching an outsider occupy a space they have failed to fill.

The comparison with Vox and the tactical vote

Chants against Vox rang out at the event, with some attendees calling them "cowards". The relationship between Alvise and Abascal's party is tense: they compete for the same disenchanted electorate, but with different strategies. While Vox has become institutionalised, Alvise presents himself as the scourge of the system.

29-N will be the litmus test. If Alvise wins a seat, Congress will have one more uncomfortable voice. If not, the phenomenon could fade. The Valencia crowd suggests there is fertile ground, but converting goodwill into votes remains the outstanding challenge.

Is the internet a nest of bots?

The euphoria on social media contrasts with the scepticism of those who doubt the real scale of the support. Some argue that social networks are full of automated accounts and that ordinary people do not spend all day on them. It is a recurring debate: the gap between the digital metric and reality on the street. In Valencia, the street responded. What happens at the ballot box is another matter.

The Alvise phenomenon poses an uncomfortable question: are we looking at a new kind of politician, or a mirage amplified by the algorithm? The answer, as almost always, will come from the votes.