Francesco Giorgi, charged with corruption in the Qatargate affair, is said to have confessed and denounced the former Italian MEP Antonio Panzeri as being the head of the corruption network set up in the European Parliament. Update on the investigation.
[Mis à jour le 15 décembre 2022 à 14h56] Is the network of influence behind corruption cases in the European Parliament about to fall? Francesco Giorgi, the first suspect arrested in the context of the anti-corruption operation, would have confessed according to information from the Evening, Repubblica and Knack, this Thursday, December 15, 2022. The parliamentary assistant and companion of the former vice-president of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, would have accused the former European deputy Pier Antonio Panzeri, to whom he is very close, of to be the mastermind of the corruption network set up in Brussels. Information that confirms the suspicions of Belgian investigators who have the Italian politician and founder of the human rights NGO, Fight Impunity, in the sights. The former MEP member of the Socialist and Democrats (S&D) group was also charged and imprisoned for “corruption, money laundering and criminal organization” with three other suspects after 600,000 euros were found at his Brussels home.
Francesco Giorgi also denounces two other MEPs who are members of the S&D group and who allegedly took part in the corruption network and received tidy sums of money: the Italian Andrea Cozzolino, for whom Francesco Giorgi worked in Parliament, and the Belgian Marc Tarabella. These parliamentarians would have worked for the benefit of the interests of Qatar, which wanted to restore its image in terms of civil rights by working with the Qatari Minister of Labor according to the correspondent of RFI in Rome, Anna Treca. But Morocco would also have taken advantage of the network of influence in exchange for money according to documents consulted by Le Soir, Knack and Le Repubblica. Which report that Antonio Panzeri, S&D MEP Andrea Cozzolino and Francesco Giorgi would have been in contact with the Moroccan intelligence services and the Moroccan ambassador to Poland, Abderrahim Atmoun.
The confessions of Francesco Giorgi allow the investigation to progress, but in exchange for his total collaboration with the investigators, the suspect requests the release of his companion Eva Kaili, a Greek MEP charged with corruption. The respondent claims her innocence and would not be involved in the network of corruption according to her spouse. However, many thick wads of cash were discovered at the home of the Vice-President of the European Parliament, who had been stripped of her post since December 13. The father of the elected official was also arrested in possession of a suitcase containing hundreds of thousands of euros. Eva Kaili’s lawyer maintains as a defense that his client was not aware of the presence of this money in her home and that “only her companion” is able to provide “answers on the existence of this money”, writes The world.
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.
The confessions of the parliamentary assistant detailed in several Belgian press titles bring out two other names: that of the Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino and Belgian Marc Tarabella. The first is presented as a key element within the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group in the European Parliament responsible for emergency resolutions through which the political group could defend certain interests. The second denies having received money from Qatar or Morocco and has suspended his participation in the S&D group.
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.
“Internal investigation” in Parliament and new searches
Monday, December 12, Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, announced the opening of an “internal investigation to examine all the facts related” to the institution. “The European Parliament is under attack, European democracy is under attack”, denounced Roberta Metsola, assuring: “There will be no impunity.” And to add: “To the harmful actors who exist in third States […], you will find this Parliament on your way. We are Europeans, we prefer to be cold than bought.”
A little later, still on the evening of December 12, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office indicated that new searches had been carried out at the European Parliament. According a judicial source, including Le Figaro echoes, it would be the 20th search in just four days in this case. Goal mentioned, reports franceinfo : avoid “that data necessary for the investigation disappear”.