This Friday, December 9, the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced Five people were arrested In the context of an inquiry by an economic judge Suspicions of “corruption” and “money laundering” within the European ParliamentRevealed Evening. A country in the Middle East, no doubt Qatar will participate According to this case Parisian.

The survey started in July

Flemish magazine Nike etc Evening A federal investigation has been launched mid july In Belgium, about a criminal organization suspected of meddling in EU politics on behalf of Qatar.

Gulf countries would tryInfluencing economic and political decisions of the European Parliament “By paying large sums of money or making significant gifts to third parties with an important political and/or strategic position within the European Parliament”, the investigators of the Federal Judicial Police explain in a press release. the world.

The judge hearing the case, Michael Claes, chose his date well December 9 was International Anti-Corruption Day.

Sixteen searches

Sixteen houses and apartments were searched This Friday morning, at fourteen different addresses of agents of the Central Office for the Suppression of Corruption (OCRC) in Brussels, Ixelles, Scharbeek, Krainheim, Forest and Brussels-City.

All in all, there was nothing short of that Five arrestsReports France info. Among those arrested were a Greek Socialist MEP and a European Parliament vice-president Eva Kylie. His accomplice Francesco Giorgi, parliamentary assistant and Italian trade union leader Luca Vicentini, former Italian MEP Pier-Antonio Panzeri from the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group from 2004 to 2019, and an NGO director were also arrested.

600,000 euros in cash

Police found “Approximately €600,000 in cash” In a safe at the home of Pier-Antonio Panzeri, as well “Computer Devices and Mobile Phones” Whose content will be analyzed, details Western France.

The offices of two S&D Group MPs’ assistants have been sealed off until Monday to allow police to investigate.

Is Eva Kylie at the center of the case?

The Greek was arrested on Friday Judge Claes took the case for hearingBecause it would have taken In acting. As an exception to this principle, Eva Kylie could not be questioned as she was offered the title of European Parliamentarian. Immunity.

No information has yet filtered out about this potential flagrante delicto, Le Parisien indicates.

Just before the World Cup, the former Greek TV news anchor praised Qatar’s commitment to the European Union. “Pursue Labor Reforms”According to a tweet by the Union’s Ambassador to Doha, Christian Tudor.

Last November 22, the MEP impressively announced in a tribune of the European Parliament: “Today, the football World Cup in Qatar is concrete proof that sports diplomacy can lead to the historic transformation of a country that has inspired reforms. The Arab world.” Qatar is at the forefront of labor rights.”

A Greek elected official explains to Le Parisien that Mrs Kylie “doesn’t want to give up her seat because she knows it will provoke. Waiver of his parliamentary immunity“.