2023-05-29 12:30:00
QATARGATE – Eva Kaili is back in the European Parliament. A few months after being charged and imprisoned for her involvement in the “QatarGate” corruption scandal, the Greek MEP, stripped of her post as vice-president of Parliament in December 2022, was authorized by Belgian justice to withdraw her electronic bracelet and was released from house arrest. His lawyer announced his return to parliament to perform his duties pending his trial, at the end of which “she thinks she is acquitted”, he said.
At the beginning of December 2022, the elected socialist, one of the 14 vice-presidents of the European Parliament was arrested on suspicion of corruption. She is suspected of having been paid by Qatar to defend its interests, in particular its reputation on human rights and the treatment of foreign workers.
Three other people were imprisoned in this investigation, including his father, his companion Francesco Giorgi and the parliamentarian Pier Antonio Panzeri. Bags containing 150,000 euros were discovered in Kaili’s Brussels apartment, while her father was caught with a suitcase containing 750,000 euros in cash. In addition, 600,000 euros were seized from the home of Pier-Antonio Panzeri.
Eva Kaili thinks “she will be acquitted”
Corruption charges were quickly dismissed by Qatar, against which Parliament quickly took action. Pier Antonio Panzeri and Francesco Giorgi were also accused of having been paid by Morocco to defend its interests within the European Union. Like Doha, Rabat has also rejected these accusations.
Eva Kaili denied any corruption but was kept in prison by the Brussels council chamber, along with Francesco Giorgi and Pier Antonio Panzeri. These three defendants were released one after the other between FEBRUARY et avril 2023 then placed on probation or under house arrest while wearing an electronic bracelet. The fourth MEP imprisoned, Marc Tarabella, even resumed his seat last week on the municipal council of Anthisnes in Belgium.
On Thursday May 25, 2023, the former journalist and TV presenter was authorized by Belgian justice to remove her electronic bracelet and leave the residence where she was assigned. While awaiting her trial for corruption, Eva Kaili will even resume her duties in the European Parliament. It must nevertheless remain on Belgian territory, do we specify.
According to one statement of his lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos to the Greek television channel Skaï, “she will be in the European Parliament next week to carry out her duties” of deputy. Its first objective is to “determine with Parliament whether her surveillance, arrest and imprisonment violated her rights as an MEP”.
Lawyer Michalis Dimitrakopoulos added on Friday May 26 that Pier Antonio Panzeri was the “brain” of this affair and that Eva Kaili’s fingerprints had not been found on the money seized by the police. Moreover, he added, the former President of Parliament thinks “that she will be acquitted if the case goes to trial”.
The dismissal of a Member of the European Parliament from his duties as President, Vice-President or Quaestor does not entail the withdrawal of his mandate as a Member of the European Parliament. According the Rules of the European Parliament, if a MEP “elected in accordance with national electoral laws” is found guilty of a criminal offence, “it is up to the authorities of the Member State to decide whether his mandate should be withdrawn”. A procedure explained in paragraph 4 article 4 of Chapter 1 of Title 1 of the Regulations.
The Greek Socialist Party (PASOK), of which Eva Kaili is a member, announced its “gap” when this scandal broke. Although several elected members of the party had asked that she give up her seat in the European Parliament, the Greek authorities, who froze its assets in Greece, probably did not notify the withdrawal of his mandate to the European Parliament.
“Restore the credibility” of the European Parliament
The announcement of his release and the resumption of his duties aroused as much surprise as indignation, among Internet usersFrench MEPs, particularly those from national rally or the supporters of the “Frexit”.
Investigating judge Michel Claise suspects that Morocco and Qatar have made cash payments in exchange for favorable decisions or positions taken by MEPs.
The day after Eva Kaili’s arrest and the search ordered by the federal prosecutor’s office, the President of the European Parliament, the Maltese Roberta Metsola, had announced a “internal investigation”, measures against corruption and interference by foreign powers as well as a reform of this institution to “restore” its credibility and “the confidence of European citizens”.
The reform plan has been approved by the presidents of the parliamentary groups in February 2023. The measures include, among other things, more transparency on lobbying operations, the fight against foreign interference and the prohibition of friendship groups with third countries in which interlocutors official parliamentarians already exist. A project that Roberta Metsola must complete before the upcoming European Parliament electionswhich will take place from June 6 to 9, 2024.
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