Thriller continues corruption scandal which erupted in the heart of the European capital and in which the name of a Greek MEP is involved, Eva Kylie, but also her partner. According to ERT, statements by the Belgian judiciary in the case are expected on Sunday.
Eva Kylie’s previously accredited partner in Brussels told APE that none of her five accredited partners in the Belgian capital have been called in to testify or be questioned by the authorities.
Polls in various municipalities of Brussels
The arrival of Ms Kaili and four other people took place as part of an investigation by the Anti-Corruption Authority into corruption and funding by Qatari officials in the European Parliament. Belgian authorities carried out at least 17 searches yesterday in various municipalities in Brussels, including the home of Ms. Eva Kaili.
According to the Belgian newspaper L’Echo, Ms Kaili spent the night in custody after “bags of banknotes” were found in her home.
The same newspaper reports that Ms Kylie was arrested on her own initiative, which is the only possible way to revoke her parliamentary immunity. Investigators also arrested her father, who tried to escape with a suitcase full of banknotes.
According to the newspaper Le Soir, Ms Kylie, like the other four arrested who were taken to hearings yesterday, will face a competent judge within 48 hours who will decide on possible arrest warrants.
The Belgian federal prosecutor’s office has not confirmed the names of those arrested, but emphasizes that they are “persons with strategic positions.”
Four arrested
According to the Athens Agency, the other four arrested are partners of Ms. Kaili, Francesco Giorgiwho was previously an associate of the also arrested former Socialist MEP (2004-2019), Pier Antonio Pancheri.
Also arrested was the newly appointed general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), Luca Vincentini, who for 11 years was the head of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The fifth person Nicholas Figa Talamancadirector of the public organization “There is no peace without justice.”
According to all the media, yesterday at the same time they were detained in Bergamo, Italy. husband and daughter former Italian MEP, Pier Antonio Pancheriwho is the founder of one of the NGOs being investigated by the Belgian police”,Fight against impunitywhich has been fighting human rights violations since 2019.
They were found at Mr. Pankeri’s house in Brussels. 600,000 eurosSuar reports.
It also became known that the Belgian authorities raided the homes and offices of associates of two Belgian MEPs. Marie Alenaformer minister of Belgium and Mark Tarabellawho also belong to the socialist group of the European Parliament.
The authorities confiscated computers and sealed the offices of their aides.
Finally, it is noted that the report of the federal prosecutor’s office states that the Belgian authorities are at the center of the investigation Qatar’s actionswhere the World Cup is currently held is suspected of “influencing the financial and political decisions of the European Parliament by paying significant sums of money or offering significant gifts”.
Italy: Article One Party Suspends Former MEP Antonio Pancheri
According to the newspaper La Repubblica, the Italian left party “Article One” has temporarily suspended former MEP Antonio Pancheri from its members. This Italian political force expresses confidence in justice and the expectation that Pancheri will be able to “prove that he is not involved in the whole corruption case that has flared up in Brussels.”
The newspaper refers to the investigation report of the Belgian prosecutor’s office, according to which “Pantseri is accused of suspicion of political interference in the activities of persons working in the European Parliament in favor of Qatar and Morocco for a monetary reward.”
According to the investigation protocol cited by the newspaper Rome, “the investigation concerns crimes related to corruption, money laundering and criminal activity”, although, as noted, “the presumption of innocence always applies.”
Meanwhile, in Brescia in northern Italy, a warrant for the arrest of Panzeri’s daughter and wife is being tested. La Repubblica adds that, based on the content of the wiretapping, “both were fully aware of the actions of the former Italian MEP, even in relation to the transport and delivery of gifts.”
European Parliament: Transparency International denounces ‘growing culture of impunity’
The Belgian police operation in the European Parliament on a corruption case is causing a strong reaction in Brussels, where MEPs and non-governmental organizations are calling for an urgent discussion to improve the functioning of the rules of ethics in this great institution of the European Union.
“This is not an isolated incident,” Transparency International said. “For many decades, Parliament has allowed the development of a culture of impunity (…) and a total lack of independent moral oversight.”
This control is “faulty” in the institution (the European Parliament), Alberto Alemano, professor of law at the College of Europe in Bruges, tweeted.
French MEP Manon Aubry (radical left) today denounced Qatar’s “aggressive lobbying” and asked for a debate on the issue next week in Strasbourg, where the plenary session of the European Parliament is taking place.
“We will do our best to cooperate with justice,” MEP Roberta Metzola tweeted.
Source: Kathimerini
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