A wave of arrests and detentions targeting people linked to the European Parliament have taken place in Brussels. The defendants are suspected of having been corrupted by Qatar. A vice-president of the institution was imprisoned.
Earthquake in the European Parliament, in Brussels (Belgium). Since Friday, December 9, 2022, the institution has been shaken by suspicions of corruption of certain deputies by Qatar, revealed by two Belgian media: The evening and knock. Eva Kaïli, one of the vice-presidents of the organization, was placed in pre-trial detention, implicated for the counts of corruption, money laundering and membership of a criminal organization. Other people, closely linked to the European Parliament, are accused of having been influenced by the small Gulf country in exchange for very large sums of cash.
What are the suspicions of corruption hanging over the European Parliament?
Since the summer of 2022, in the greatest discretion, the Central Office for the Repression of Corruption – a Belgian institution – has been investigating, “suspected[ant] a Gulf country to attempt to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament, by paying substantial sums of money or by offering significant gifts to third parties having a significant political and/or strategic position within the European Parliament” , as indicated by the country’s federal prosecutor’s office to the two media, without ever mentioning Qatar.But the Belgian media argue that it is indeed this very wealthy state.
Who is concerned ?
Friday, December 9, 16 searches were carried out in Brussels and around the Belgian capital. Six people had been arrested, as well as others over the weekend. This is’Eva Kaili, current Greek Socialist MEP and Vice-President of the European Parliament; his companion Francesco Giorgiparliamentary assistant; Niccolo Figa-Talamancaleader of the NGO No Peace Without Justice; Pier Antonio Panzeri, former Italian MEP; his wife and daughter; Luca Visentini, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation. Following these arrests, the first four named were placed in pre-trial detention, reports The world.
What bribes would have been paid?
According to the first elements revealed, the investigators have already got their hands on €600,000 in cash, discovered at the home of Pier-Antonio Panzeri. The evening. In addition, it should however be noted that, during her arrest, Eva Kaïli was in possession of “bags of tickets”, even if the content was not exactly specified. The world reports that in total, between the two defendants, “hundreds of thousands of euros have been seized by the investigators.” Are these bundles from intermediaries linked to Qatar? The investigation will have to determine this, probably informed by the seizure of computer equipment and mobile phones during the searches on Friday.
What decisions would have been influenced?
This is the whole point of the investigation. To what extent have bribes influenced decisions of the European Parliament? For the time being, Eva Kaïli is only accused of having been particularly complimentary of Qatar in a speech on November 22, 2022, praising the country as “a leader in labor law”. , adding that “the FIFA World Cup is concrete proof of how sports diplomacy can achieve a historic transformation of a country whose reforms have inspired the Arab world.” Remarks not frankly critical to the address of a State where labor law is regularly pointed out, all the more in the preparation of a World Cup where fatal accidents on construction sites try to be stifled.
In addition, on November 24, 2022, still in the European Parliament, the deputies of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (centre-left), of which Eva Kaïli is a member, had joined forces with the right and the far right to to oppose the adoption of a resolution condemning the violation of human rights in Qatar. These two events occurred a few days after Eva Kaïli went to Qatar in early November.
Pier-Antonio Panzeri is, for his part, accused of “politically intervening with members working in the European Parliament for the benefit of Qatar and Morocco”, according to information collected by Politico.