The MEP is being questioned by the authorities as a suspect in a corruption case, in which MEPs and Qatar are said to be protagonists.
The Belgian police authorities proceeded to arrest the MEP and vice-president of the European Parliament, Evas Kaili, following investigations into the bribery of MEPs from Qatar.
Agence France-Presse reported that the Greek MEP has been arrested.
#BREAKING European Parliament vice-president Eva Kaili arrested pic.twitter.com/ukxMPBh90b
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 9, 2022
The MEP is being questioned by the authorities as a suspect in a corruption case, in which MEPs and Qatar are said to be protagonists.
According to a report by the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, a raid was made at the house of Mrs. Kaili, while her husband was also arrested for the same case on Friday morning.
The federal prosecutor’s office, in its announcement, emphasizes that for months, there have been suspicions “that a Persian Gulf country is trying to influence the economic and political decision-making of the European Parliament.”
He even adds that in order to achieve this, he “paid large sums of money or offered large gifts to third parties with an important political or strategic position within the European Parliament”.
As part of the investigation that has been launched into the case, 16 investigations were carried out in four municipalities.
The Belgian news agency Belga, on its English-language website, reports that Eva Kaili is vice-president of the European Parliament from this year.
Her responsibilities include relations with the Middle East.
He adds that the partner of Mrs. Kaili F.G. – a parliamentary assistant in the S&D – was already questioned on Friday.
He worked for the Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and is also active in his non-profit organization Fight Impunity. Investigations were carried out there and at Panzeri’s house. Almost 500,000 euros in cash were seized from his home.
The last two arrested are said to be lobbyist and trade unionist Luca Visentini. Visentini was elected general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), with 200 million members worldwide, just in November.
The arrests are part of a Gulf state bribery investigation. Earlier on Friday, 16 searches were carried out in the municipalities of Ixelles, Skarbek, Krainem, Foret and Brussels.
“Investigators of the Federal Judicial Police have suspected for several months that a Persian Gulf country is trying to influence the economic and political decision-making of the European Parliament. They did so by paying large sums of money or offering large gifts to third parties with an important political or strategic position within the European Parliament,” the federal prosecutor’s office said earlier today.
Apart from PASOK and European Socialists
In a statement issued yesterday by PASOK it is stated:After the latest developments and the Belgian authorities’ investigation into corruption of European officials, MEP Eva Kaili is expelled from PASOK – Movement for Change by decision of President Nikos Androulakis”.
After the latest developments and the Belgian authorities’ investigation into corruption of European officials, MEP Eva Kaili is expelled from PASOK – Movement for Change
— Nikos Androulakis (@androulakisnick) December 9, 2022
The Group of European Socialists and Democrats of the European Parliament has announced that it has decided to exclude MEP Eva Kaili from the Group. The suspension of Eva Kaili’s participation in the Socialist Group has “immediate effect, in response to the ongoing investigations”, the announcement states.
With information from APE
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