The European Parliament has been shaken by an investigation into corruption allegedly in favor of Qatar

It is an earthquake and can still tell some aftershocks: the announcement by the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office, Friday, December 9, that about fifteen searches have been carried out in various municipalities of Brussels, targeting officials suspected of corruption in his favor. The Gulf state (several identical sources claim to be Qatar), vigorously shook the European Parliament.

Several people have been arrested for questioning and possibly indictment. Among them are Eva Kaili, 44, Greek Vice-President of the Assembly, member of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), Pier Antonio Panzieri, 67, former Italian member of parliament for S&D and head of the NGO Fight Impunity, as well as Luca Visentini, Secretary General International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).

Francesco Giorgi, former parliamentary aide to Mr. Panziri, companion of Mr.^I Kylie, was arrested too. Investigators also visited the office of two deputy assistants from S&D Group, Belgians Marc Tarabella and Marie Arena, and placed them under seal. A parliamentary aide from the (conservative) European People’s Party was also questioned.

The investigation by the Central Corruption Office of the Belgian Federal Police began in July. It is headed by investigative judge Michel Cleese, a specialist in finance, corruption and money laundering, who has conducted resounding investigations into the world of banking, politics and football.

“Tip of the iceberg”

According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, which issued a press release Friday afternoon after the Flemish magazine’s revelations Methods and every day Eveninginvestigations focus on “supposed acts of criminal organization, corruption and money laundering”. The detectives, they continued with the text, are suspects “A Gulf state to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament, by paying large sums of money or by offering large gifts to third parties that have an important political and/or strategic position within the European Parliament.”.

The prosecution explained that the searches carried out made it possible to obtain about 600,000 euros in cash. Computers and cell phones have been seized. Surprisingly, in the European Parliament, some believe that this is the only issue “Tip of the iceberg”. However, the official reaction was curt: “Parliament does not comment on court proceedings. As always, it cooperates fully with the relevant national authorities and the same applies in this particular case.”

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