Time.news – “I think it is no exaggeration to say that these have been among the longest days of my career. I have to choose my words carefully, so as not to jeopardize the ongoing investigation or in any way undermine the presumption of innocence And I will. So if my fury, my anger, my pain don’t show, I assure you they are very much there, along with my determination for this Assembly to grow stronger. Make no mistake: the European Parliament, dear colleagues, is under attack. European democracy is under attack. And our way of open, free and democratic societies is under attack”. The words are from the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, spoken during the debate in the hall on the alleged case of corruption from Qatar.
LIVE | Statement at @Europarl_EN #EPlenary in Strasbourg https://t.co/De0jCxXmjE
— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) December 12, 2022
“The enemies of democracy, for whom the very existence of this Parliament poses a threat, will stop at nothing”, he adds. “These evil actors, linked to autocratic third countries, allegedly weaponized NGOs, trade unions, individuals, assistants and members of the European Parliament in an attempt to subjugate our processes. Their evil plans have failed.”
“Our services – explains Metsola – of which I am incredibly proud, have been collaborating for some time with law enforcement agencies and the competent national judicial authorities to dismantle this alleged criminal network. We have worked closely with the authorities to ensure that all legal steps are met, that all information is retained and that, where necessary, IT equipment is secured, offices are sealed and house searches can be carried out. Last weekend I accompanied a Belgian judge and police, as required by the Belgian constitution, to a house search.”
Metsola then reiterated the decisions taken against Eva Kaili, arrested in flagrante delicto. “As a precautionary measure, always in full respect of the presumption of innocence, I have dismissed the aforementioned vice president from all duties and responsibilities connected with his role as Vice president and I have convened an extraordinary meeting of the Conference of Presidents to initiate a procedure pursuant to article 21 to end their term as Vice-President in an effort to protect the integrity of this House”.