The European Parliament has announced the suspension of the Greek socialist Eva Kaili of all her competences and powers as vice-president of the Eurocámara, although not of the position itself, in relation to a plot of alleged bribes by Qatar to people who could influence in institutional decision making.
Given the “ongoing investigations that are being carried out by the Belgian authorities“, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola “has decided to suspend with immediate effect all the powers, tasks and competences delegated to Eva Kaili as vice-president” of the chamber, the spokesperson for the European Parliament reported. This decision, in practical terms, means the Kaili’s withdrawal of all acting abilitiesbut not the title of the Vice-Presidency itself, since stripping it of the position corresponds to the plenary session of the European Parliament.
Among Kaili’s powers, already annulled, were, for example, her role as Chair of the Working Group on the ICT Innovation Strategy o Substitute of the Presidency for multilateral bodies (outside the field of security), in particular United Nations and the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Metsola had already confirmed this Saturday that the European Parliament has “fully cooperated” with the relevant law enforcement and legal authorities regarding possible cases of bribery by Qatar to Kaili. “Our European Parliament stands firm against corruption. At this stage, we cannot comment on any ongoing investigations, except confirm that we have fully cooperated with all authorities relevant police and legal measures and that we will do it,” Metsola said.
In a publication on her official profile on the social network Twitter, the President of the European Parliament has remarked that the body He will do “everything possible” to help and collaborate so that Justice can take its course.
belgian police searched the home of Kaili on Friday, who was also questioned, in relation to a plot of alleged bribes by Qatar to people who could influence the decision-making of the European Parliament. The Federal Prosecutor’s Office also reported the arrest of four people and up to 16 searches carried out in various neighborhoods of Brussels in the framework of an investigation into an “alleged criminal organization of corruption and money laundering” that for months had been seeking, on behalf of a Gulf country, to influence the “economic and political” decisions of the European Parliament. However, research sources cited by the newspapers ‘Le Soir’ and ‘Knack’ have revealed that Among those arrested is a former Socialist MEP, the Italian Pier-Antonio Panzeri, several parliamentary assistants or the General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, Luca Visentini.
These media also identify Qatar as the country investigated in the framework of this anti-corruption operation. During the searches, the authorities have seized some 600,000 euros in cash and computer equipment and mobile phones for analysis by researchers.
In the last few hours, sources from the newspaper ‘L’Echo’ close to the investigation assure that there is a fifth person in custody, identified by the media as Kaili’s father, intercepted in possession of a suitcase full of banknotes, after being tipped off by accomplices, investigators believe. At the moment there is no official confirmation about it. It should be remembered that the The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) has reported that, following the investigations launched by the Belgian authorities, MEP Kaili “has been expelled from the party by decision of the president, Nikos Androulakis”, according to the newspaper ‘Kathimerini’.
Source: Lasexta
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