Alleged corruption in the European Parliament. 4 people were charged and imprisoned, including Vice President Eva Kyle.

From our correspondent in Brussels

Twenty searches, six arrests in Brussels, two more in Italy. The European Parliament has been at the center of a corruption case since Friday. On the one hand, the very wealthy Qatar, which currently hosts the FIFA World Cup. On the other hand, members of the European Parliament, collaborators and heads of organizations. The emirate is suspected of being wanted by Belgian justice, which is careful not to name him “to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament by paying significant sums or offering significant gifts; “.

On Sunday, four of the six people arrested in Brussels on Friday were charged and jailed “for membership in a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption “. Among them is the member of the Greek European Parliament, Eva Kaili, who is also the vice-president of the institution and a member of the social-democratic group. The 44-year-old former TV host could not benefit from the immunity her status affords her because she was found criminally insane. A large amount of cash was found during a search of his house on Friday evening. His father was arrested the same morning after leaving a suitcase full of banknotes from a hotel in Brussels.

Files were scanned

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Mezzola, applied the first sanction against an elected official on Saturday evening, recalling all the tasks assigned to him, in particular, representing him in the Middle East. At the request of the Renew group, all files involving this vice president will be scanned soon. The members of the European Parliament, including the leader of the Greens, Philip Lamberts, demand his resignation. The process should start on Monday.

Francesco Giorgi, the companion of the member of the European Parliament and the advisor for the Middle East and North Africa region in the European Parliament, was also imprisoned. Just like former MEP Pierre-Antonio Panzeri, who in 2019 became the founder and president of the association “Fighting Impunity”. “Fight against impunity for serious violations of human rights”. There were bags in his house with 600,000 euros in cash. His wife and daughter were arrested in Italy. On the other hand, Eva Kylie’s father was released. Luca Visentini, the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation and the former head of the European Trade Union Confederation, was released on condition from November of last year. Evening. On Saturday, a search was carried out at the home of another member of the European Parliament, Marc Tarabella from Belgium Evening and a Belgian weekly knock.

Earthquake

For the European Parliament, this case is an earthquake. That puts the Social Democrats in big trouble, the only one at this stage to get into the act. Now many are replaying last weeks movie. At the end of November, when the institution was to vote on a resolution dedicated to the human rights situation in the context of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Social Democrats had previously opposed the principle of this resolution, trying to weaken it. In the final vote, Eva Kyle presented Qatar as “Leader in the field of labor rights”. and lamented that Europeans do “Class” to this emirate. Thousands of migrants (estimated at 6,500), however, lost their lives in the open spaces for the competition.

“This is the most shocking integrity scandal in the history of the EU. Its nature and scale is far greater than the Santer Commission resignation crisis of 1999, the Dalli tobacco scandal and the revolving door of Barroso and Crozet.” says Alberto Alemanno, Professor of European Law at HEC. “This facility is basically gangrenous. And we won’t be able to clear the stables of Augeas.” says the member of the European Parliament. Some elected officials plan to block talks with the Council on visa liberalization for Qataris in the EU, while Europeans, dependent on Russia, seek to diversify their sources of gas supplies.