Bags of money found near the house of the vice-president of the European Parliament Eva Kyliewho spent the night in a pre-trial detention center, the Belgian newspaper writes leho.

Eva Kylie and four other people were arrested as part of an investigation conducted by her leadership. Central Anti-Corruption Agency, federal prosecutor’s office and investigator Michel Claesin the case of corruption and money laundering.

The Belgian newspaper speaks of “a real bomb at the heart of European democracy”, referring to the investigations being carried out into funding from Qatar.

“Sacks of cash were found in the house of the Vice President of the European Parliament,” the title of the publication, framed by a photograph of Ms Kylie, says.

According to L’Echo, Ms. Kylie was arrested as part of an autoforum, as this was the only possible way in view of her parliamentary immunity.

After the first arrests and confiscation 600,000 euros in cashwas also interrogated father Kylie, who allegedly had “a suitcase full of banknotes and was in the process of moving out as investigators believe he was tipped off by accomplices,” the publication said.

Except PASOK

Her removal Eva Kylie from PASOK The chairman of the party decided yesterday Friday, Nikos Androulakisimmediately after the publication of information from Brussels that led the MEP and vice-president of the Eurosocialists to be implicated in a corruption scandal with the financing of his leaders European Parliament from Qatar.

Mr. Androulakis told ANT1 that “since July 26, this has led me to decide to distance myself from Ms. Kylie. From the moment I reported the Pretador case, Mrs Kylie said it was something common and has happened to others.”

“He found out about yesterday when Belgian websites and Belgian newspapers wrote about it. I don’t know what happened, but my decisions are made politically,” he stressed.

“Surrender your headquarters”

PASOK asked Eva Kylie to hand over the seat to the European Parliament. Party spokesman Dimitris Manzos addressed SKAI and, commenting on the latest developments, stated that “for several months it has received very specific and insurmountable distances and differences from the PASOK-Movement for Change, positions and values ​​that it expresses. “.

He described Ms. Kailis’ exclusion as a self-evident and automatic decision by Nikos Androulakis, stressing that “we now call on her to hand over the seat to the faction she was elected from. And this should be a big message about what we mean in the PASOK Movement for Change when we talk about renewing values. No tolerance for corruption and lack of transparency. Everything and for everyone in the world. We will be free and unconditional in any such case.”

First elements

The first figures published in the Belgian media spoke of a major investigation by a Brussels economic judge who uncovered a case involving a significant number of people.

As already mentioned, suspicions about the activities of the network and the financing of European Parliament officials have existed for several months, and Belgian investigators believed that the Gulf state managed to infiltrate and influence the financial and political decisions of the European Parliament by paying significant sums of money. or by offering gifts of value to third parties in a political or important strategic position.

In the publications of the Belgian press, the name of Eva Kylie appeared as one of the defendants in the scandal, and according to some reports, she had already been called in for questioning, while there were also reports of arrest member of the European Parliament.

According to the Belgian edition Le Soir, as part of the investigation yesterday, the Belgian authorities raided the homes of the suspects and arrested four people. Among those arrested, according to the publication, is the Italian partner of Ms Kaili, whose house is reportedly among those being searched, and herself was reportedly taken to the prosecutor’s office.

Recall that recently (November 22), Eva Kylie caused a strong reaction with her position in the European Parliament from Qatar, which she called “a pioneer in the field of labor rights.”

He also encouraged him The International Labour Organization (ILO), ignoring reports of mass deaths of workers in the country.

In particular, he said: “The World Cup in Qatar today is proof of how sports diplomacy can bring about a historic transformation of a country with reforms that have inspired the Arab world. They dedicated their vision to their choice and opened up to the world, yet some here call for discrimination against them. They intimidate them, accuse of corruption everyone who talks to them or is associated with them. However, they still receive their natural gas. They still have companies making billions there.”

The messages caused Mr. Androulakis great discomfort, which he disapproved of. “This opinion does not express the priorities of our own faction. We have a different position on this very important issue of human rights and working conditions,” he said.

The group of European Socialists and Democrats of the European Parliament announced the decision to exclude Ms Kylie from the group. The suspension of her participation “takes effect immediately in connection with the ongoing investigation.”

Four Italians

However, the arrests in the controversial case began earlier. Four Italians, including a former left-wing MEP and current head of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), were arrested in Brussels today as part of an investigation into illegal lobbying practices allegedly promoted by Qatar in its attempt to influence policy and financial decisions. European Parliament, as reported by the Belgian newspaper Le Soir and reproduced by the Italian news agency Ansa.

In the same case, the partner of the Vice President of the European Parliament was also arrested Eva Kylie.

Panzeri and Visentini

Among those detained is a 67-year-old former MEP. Antonio Pantseri who is the leader of the Articolo Uno party (split of the Italian Democratic Party – DP), and the 53-year-old general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation – ITUC Luca Visentini.

According to what Le Soir reports, Brussels police allegedly discovered half a million euros in cash to Pancheri’s house.

Former MEP and trade unionist

Panzeri and Visentini are known in Brussels circles, as reported by the relevant publications.

Pancheri, who served MEP for three terms from 2004 to 2019 continues to hold high positions in Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) in the European Parliament. Before joining the Articolo Uno faction to which he now belongs, he was for a number of years the leader of the Italian Democratic Party (DP), for which he was also elected as a Member of the European Parliament.

On the other hand, the 53-year-old Visentini has been a leading figure in European trade unions for several years now.

He started his career in the Italian trade union UIL – Unione Italiana del Lavoro before being elected its secretary. Confederation of European Trade Unions (ETUC) and then move to the position of her secretary International Trade Union Confederation (MKP).

Among those arrested also, according to reports, former assistant to Panzeri in the European Parliament and director of an NGO, all of Italian descent.

The common reference point is “human rights”.

Le Soir emphasizes that those arrested were in contact with associations and non-governmental organizations active in the field of human rights. Pancheri, who previously chaired the European Parliament’s Human Rights Subcommittee, is also the organization’s president.Fight against impunity“, which contributes to the “fight against impunity when it comes to serious human rights violations.” According to what is mentioned in the relevant publications, authorities carried out searches this morning, including at the headquarters of the Fight against Impunity in Brussels.

Suspicions, raids, evidence

Authorities investigating in Brussels suspect that the Gulf state (Qatar, according to Le Soir) has attempted to illegally influence the financial and political decisions of the European Parliament, possibly by bribing people in Brussels.

“For several months now, investigators from the Federal Judicial Police have suspected that the Gulf state has been influencing the financial and political decisions of the European Parliament by paying large sums of money or offering significant gifts to third parties in an important political and / or strategic position in the European Parliament,” she said with her of the relevant prosecutor’s office, adding that “today’s searches allowed investigators to seize 600,000 cash, computers and mobile phones, which are now subject to investigation as part of the investigation.”

Influence on the European Parliament and parties

“These investigations now threaten to cause a major scandal in the European Parliament and, in particular, in the group of socialists and democrats, which is criticized for its soft stance towards Qatar ahead of the World Cup,” Politico notes in the article. .

However, the allegations subject to investigation have already begun to set off events: “Eva Kaili was expelled from PASOK – the Movement for Change by the decision of President Nikos Androulakis”, and the Socialist and Democrats (S&D) group stressed that it was going to “cooperate with the authorities”, while saying ” aversion to allegations of corruption.”

Now, in the shadow of fast-paced events, many are quick to recall the meeting Ms Kylie recently had with Qatar’s labor minister, a meeting in which a Greek MEP praised the Arab monarchy in question, which many others, however, are accused of violating human rights.