One of the vice presidents of the European Parliament and Greek politician Eva Kaili was detained on Friday in Belgium as a result of a police investigation into suspected bribery given to EU politicians by World Cup host Qatar.
According to a statement from the Central Anti-Corruption Office, Belgium’s Federal Judicial Police (PJF) has reason to believe that “a Gulf country” has influenced MEPs by giving “major presents” or “large quantities of money” to individuals who have access to MPs. More than €600,000 in cash and “computer equipment and cell phones” have been seized by the police.
The Gulf nation has been identified as Qatar by Belgian media, and one of those detained is described as Kaili, 44, a former TV host who has served as an MEP for PASOK, a Socialists and Democrats (S&D) Group member since 2014.
Four individuals were detained for interrogation after sixteen searches were conducted across numerous Belgian cities. According to the authorities, the operation “targeted in particular parliamentary assistants operating within the European Parliament.”
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The individuals named in the details were Kaili, her aide F.G., ex-MEP and the aide’s former boss Pier-Antonio Panzeri, and Luca Visentini, the recently elected secretary-general of the International Trade Union Confederation.
A resolution passed by the European Parliament last month criticising Qatar for the deaths of construction workers who were building World Cup stadiums and “other human rights breaches” was opposed by Kaili, who praised the Gulf monarchy as a “frontrunner in labour rights.” Earlier in November, she had visited Qatar and met with the labour minister while expressing support for the event on behalf of the EU.
According to the Greek daily Kathimerini, PASOK has responded to the news by declaring Kaili’s dismissal. By the allegations, the S&D Group declared that it was “appalled” and that it would “completely cooperate with all investigating authorities.” Moreover, the bloc demanded “the suspension of work on any files and plenary votes pertaining to the Gulf States, including visa liberalisation and planned visits.”
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