To what extent has Qatar managed to influence European democracy? This is the question that arises with the revelations that have followed one another since December 9 on the scheme of corruption of MEPs set up for the benefit of the emirate.
In a text adopted after the scandal, the European Parliament expressed concern that the decisions it recently adopted with regard to Qatar “are likely to have been unduly altered by acts of corruption and undue influence”.
At this stage, only five names of suspected MEPs have leaked to the press: the Greek Eva Kaili, the Belgians Marc Tarabella and Maria Arena and the Italians Alessandra Moretti and Andrea Cozzolino. All are members of the moderate left-wing Socialists & Democrats (S&D). However, they are far from the only ones to have taken conciliatory positions towards Qatar in recent months, as can be seen by analyzing the results of the votes in the European Parliament.
Corruption or herd reflex?
On November 21, a debate is organized in Strasbourg on the human rights situation in Qatar, on the eve of the opening of the World Cup. Not wishing to settle for a simple discussion, the rebellious MEP Manon Aubry proposes to her colleagues to vote on a resolution, that is to say a political text which summarizes the position of the European Parliament on the subject. The idea is approved thanks to a coalition of the radical left, the Greens and the centrists.
But it is largely rejected (86%) by the left-wing S&D group. Does this raise suspicion of corruption on the seventy-three elected officials who voted against Ms.me Aubry, or who abstained? Not necessarily, explain several good connoisseurs of the European Parliament, who insist more readily on the herd reflex of certain MEPs.
“We received group instructions to vote against”, says Raphaël Glucksmann (Public Square). If the French elected official decided to disobey this partisan discipline, most of his S&D colleagues followed the voting instructions, like the French socialist Eric Andrieu, who explains that he respected “the fixed line within the group”even if he regrets it ” in hindsight “.
An influential Italian deputy
By whom, then, was this “line” defined? Many clues point to MEP Andrea Cozzolino, now suspended from the group on suspicion of having been corrupted by Qatar. This Italian elected official had a strong influence in the S&D group, since he was responsible for “emergency resolutions”these topical texts voted regularly by the Parliament to take position on the questions of foreign policy or violation of the rights.
You have 65.56% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.