The ‘Qatargate’ case: the keys to the corruption investigation that dots the European Parliament

The European Parliament recovers its plenary session this Monday after the earthquake caused by the scandal of the ‘Qatargate‘: alleged bribery by Qatar to people who can influence the decision-making of the European Institution. The Belgian prosecutor’s office explains it in its statement, which states: “For this they paid sums of money and offered significant gifts to third parties with a significant political and strategic position.” The Qatari government has been quick to deny any “inappropriate” conduct and to ensure that its relations with institutions are always in “full compliance with international laws and regulations.” However, the investigation, which began last July, continues.

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Until now. 16 searches have been carried out on the homes of people related to the European Parliament. In these mobile searches, computer equipment and at least 600,000 euros in cash have been seized. Initially, six arrests were made in Brussels, of which four have been charged, accused of belonging to a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption. These are the defendants in the investigation:

• Pier Antonio Panzeri: He has a long career in Italian trade unionism until in 2004 he was elected member of the European Parliament. Later in 2019 he left his seat with the Social Democrats. He is currently the President of the Fight Impunity Association, dedicated to the fight against human rights violations and which appears to be at the center of the corruption scheme being investigated by the Belgian authorities. His arrest is added to that of his wife and his daughter in Italy. Both accused for being aware of Panzeri’s business.

• Francesco Giorgi: Eva Kaili’s sentimental partner, he was Pier-Antonio Panzeri’s assistant when he was a deputy. On his social media, he boasted of a luxurious lifestyle. He is also linked to the NGO Fight Impunity, he is one of its founders.

• Niccolò Figà-Talamanca: Secretary General of the NGO No Peace Without Justice, whose headquarters are located at the same address as the one directed by Panzeri himself, Fight Impunity.

The key. However, among all those investigated, the name of Eva Kaili has been the most repeated in recent hours. Who is it about? ¿Why is it so important?

• Kaili is one of the current vice presidents of the European Parliament and the highest position charged in ‘Qatargate’. Her political career began in 2007, when she was elected as a deputy for PASOK, the Greek socialists, in the Hellenic Parliament. In 2014 she stood for the European elections, in which she was elected MEP with this formation. She until, earlier this year, she was appointed vice president of the European Parliament.

• A social democrat and controversial figure in Greece, in recent months his relationship with the Party of European Socialists (PSE) and PASOK has deteriorated. One of the reasons was precisely her support for the Qatari authorities during a speech in plenary session of the Eurochamber in November.

• “Qatar is at the forefront of labor rights, abolishing kafala and lowering the minimum wage. Despite the challenges that even European companies are refusing to enforce these laws, they committed to a vision by choice, and opened up to the world. Even so, some here call to discriminate against them. They intimidate them and accuse of corruption anyone who talks to them or compromises. But even so, they take their gasoline. Even so, they have their companies there that earn billions “, he affirmed, to which he added:” They are peace negotiators. They are good neighbors and partners.

• Some controversial statements that, together with the recent investigations in Brussels, have led to her being expelled from PASOK. She also gave her functions in Parliament, by decision of the president of the Eurochamber, Roberta Metsola.

They are not the only ones. Added to these four accusations are two initially detainees who have already been released:

• Luca Visentini: Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.

• Eva Kaili’s father: He was arrested by the Belgian authorities when he was preparing to flee his home with a bag full of money.

The answer. It is one of the biggest scandals in the recent history of the European institutions and new arrests are not ruled out, a tension that was experienced in the last plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg:

• The parliamentary groups have rejected the attitude of the detainees and demand a thorough investigation of this case, stop any legislative initiative related to Qatar and neighboring countries and take strong measures to improve the internal rules of conduct of the Eurochamber.