Álvaro Pérez Alonso, known as “El Bigotes”, is a Spanish businessman linked to the Gürtel corruption network and a key figure in the Valencian branch of the case. He became publicly known through his role in business dealings connected to that investigation and later through his conviction by the National Court in the phase often referred to as the “Valencia era” of Gürtel.
Professional career
Álvaro Pérez Alonso was born in 1963. In the public record most closely associated with his name, he is identified as a businessman and as the head of Orange Market, the Valencian subsidiary linked to the Gürtel network.
Orange Market operated in the Valencian Community and became one of the companies examined in the judicial investigations into the wider Gürtel case. Pérez Alonso’s name emerged prominently in connection with that structure, especially through his role in the business organisation that handled events and contracts under scrutiny in the proceedings.
His public career, as reflected in judicial and media coverage, is therefore tied less to conventional corporate activity than to his function within the Gürtel network. The available verified milestones place him in that role as a business organiser in the Valencia branch and later as a defendant in the corruption proceedings arising from those activities.
Public relevance and open cases
Álvaro Pérez Alonso appears in public debate because of his association with the Gürtel case, one of the most significant corruption investigations in Spain. His public profile became especially relevant from the time the investigation expanded into the Valencian branch, where Orange Market was examined as part of the alleged contracting and influence-peddling scheme.
In judicial terms, the key fact that is publicly established is that Pérez Alonso was convicted by the National Court in the Gürtel case, specifically in the phase linked to Valencia. This is a final conviction for the purposes of describing his legal history factually. The case concerned corruption-related conduct examined by the court within the wider Gürtel proceedings.
At the same time, if there are any separate or subsequent proceedings, only those that are verifiably documented should be cited. No additional open judicial cases are included here unless specifically identified in reliable records. Where proceedings remain pending in general public references, the appropriate formulation is under investigation or charged, and the presumption of innocence must be maintained.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Álvaro Pérez Alonso, “El Bigotes”? He is a Spanish businessman associated with the Gürtel corruption network, especially its Valencian branch, and he was convicted by the National Court in that case.
Why is he called “El Bigotes”? The nickname is widely used in Spanish public reporting and judicial coverage. It became part of his public identification in connection with the Gürtel proceedings.
What was Orange Market? Orange Market was the Valencian subsidiary linked to the Gürtel network. Pérez Alonso is identified as the head of that company.
Was Álvaro Pérez Alonso convicted? Yes. He was convicted by the National Court in the Gürtel case in the part associated with the Valencia era of the network.
Why does he still matter in Spanish politics? He remains relevant because Gürtel was a major corruption case with political implications in Spain, and Pérez Alonso was one of the figures linked to its Valencian operations.