Pockets full of money: what we know about the corruption scandal in the EU parliament report: Qatar teamed up with Putin for the 2022 World Cup and wanted to spy on him

The news hit like a bomb: after months of investigation, the Belgian public prosecutor’s office in Brussels took action on Friday.

In 16 raids, a total of six people were arrested and 600,000 euros, mobile phones and computers were seized. It is about the biggest corruption scandal in the EU parliament.

Suspicion: Qatar bought a picture polish

According to Belgian authorities, an unnamed Gulf state has been trying for months to influence political decision-makers in the European Parliament. Large sums of money and donations poured in.

According to media reports, it concerns Qatar. Apparently it was about polishing up the image in the run-up to the World Cup football.

In the middle the top of the parliament

The most prominent person among those arrested is Eva Kaili, Vice President of the European Parliament. The Greek socialist and former TV presenter has been detained since Friday.

According to the Belgian business newspaper, “bags full of money” were found at her home. Her father was allegedly arrested with a suitcase containing a large amount of cash. Her partner Francesco G., who works in the EU parliament, is also imprisoned.

The same goes for former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, who heads a human rights organization in Brussels called “Fight Impunity”. Francesco G. previously worked for him. The head of the European Trade Union Confederation, Luca Visentini, was also arrested. On Sunday it was announced that a house search had also been carried out at the Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella. The presumption of innocence applies to all persons mentioned.

A friend of the Swiss trade unions

At least one of those involved is no stranger to Switzerland: Luca Visentini. On the side of the local trade unions, he actively fought against the framework agreement with the EU and against the weakening of Swiss wage protection. In March 2021, he also wrote a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. In addition to his work as a trade unionist, the Italian is also a poet and writer in his spare time.

The connection with Italy

What is striking is that all those arrested would be Italian citizens or, like Kaili, would have close personal ties to Italy through their partner. All belong to the European social democratic party family or are close to it. It remains to be seen whether other MPs and people associated with the EU Parliament are involved in the scandal.

Words of praise for the desert emirate

At the moment, one can only speculate about the concrete consideration for the donations. One thing is clear: Kaili has made several positive comments about Qatar, which has been criticized for human rights violations. As part of a debate in the EU Parliament in November, she said Qatar played a “pioneer role” in workers’ rights. Qatar shows that sports diplomacy can bring about historic change in a country whose reforms have inspired the Arab world,” said Kaili.

Trade unionist Visentini also expressed his appreciation. It is also striking that at the end of November the majority of the Social Democratic MPs in the EU Parliament voted against a resolution denouncing the human rights situation in Qatar.

EU parliamentarians enjoy immunity – except…

In fact, like national parliamentarians, EU parliamentarians enjoy immunity from criminal charges, which is intended to enable them to exercise their office independently. However, Parliament’s Rules of Procedure state that a Member of the European Parliament cannot invoke his immunity if he is found guilty of public offences. Apparently the Belgian authorities took this condition for granted.

How it goes on

The Belgian investigating judge decided on Sunday to detain four of the six arrested persons. According to the Belgian media, Vice President Eva Kaili should also be among them. According to Italian media, the scandal is already spreading outside Belgium: the wife and daughter of former Italian MP Pier Antonio Panzeri were also arrested in Italy. Several groups in the EU parliament are now calling for the vote on visa facilitation for Qatar, scheduled for next week, to be suspended.

Politically shocked

The political reactions are high. On Friday evening, Kaili was expelled from the party by the Greek socialists. The Social Democratic group in the EU parliament has also suspended the 44-year-old. Parliament Speaker Roberta Metsola has temporarily removed Kaili from her position. Jens Geier, the head of the German Social Democratic delegation, called on Kaili to resign.

“It can’t go on like this for a day,” says Geier. The other groups also expressed their displeasure and called for immediate and full clarification. The reputational damage is particularly great for the EU Parliament, which sees itself as a pioneer for transparency and against corruption. The spokesman for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country is embroiled in a corruption dispute with the EU, has already tweeted that he looks forward to any statements from those MPs who otherwise write against corruption.

Lobby Jungle Brussels

The EU capital Brussels is a huge playground for lobbyists and interest groups. Companies invested millions. The EU parliament does have a lobby register and actually progressive transparency rules. But state actors in particular, such as representatives of non-EU member states, do not have to register and are given access to the EU parliament.

Michiel van Hulten, director of “Transparency International EU”, denounces that a “culture of impunity” has emerged in recent decades with a combination of lax financial rules and a total lack of independent oversight. As the first step in a fundamental reform, the European Commission must now finally present its long-delayed proposal for an independent ethics committee with enforcement powers. (aargauerzeitung.ch)