Suspicions of corruption: the European Parliament condemns the “attack” on democracy

‘European democracy under attack’: European Parliament President Roberta Metsola vowed fervently on Monday to reform an institution rocked by an alleged corruption scandal involving Qatar.

• Also read: Greek Vice President Eva Kaili jailed

Belgian police raided the parliament building in Brussels on Monday after arresting Greek lawmaker-elect Eva Kaili on Sunday.

This socialist member of the European Parliament, who holds one of the 14 vice-presidents, is suspected of receiving money from Doha to defend the interests of the emirate, which is currently hosting the World Cup.

Three other people have been jailed in this investigation.

The sums seized during the 20 searches carried out so far are staggering: “600,000 euros in the home of a suspect, several hundred thousand euros in a suitcase in a hotel room in Brussels and almost 150,000 euros in an apartment owned by one person.” MEP According to statistics from the Federal Prosecutor’s Office.

Roberta Metsola expressed “anger, anger and sadness” at the bloody bike ride in Strasbourg on Monday afternoon. It promised “there will be no impunity (…) nothing will be swept under the rug”, announcing an “internal investigation” to examine all facts relating to the European Parliament and ensure that the institution improves its procedures.

“We will launch a reform process to see who has access to our buildings, how these organizations, NGOs and people are funded, what links they have with third countries, and we will require more transparency in meetings with foreign actors,” the lady promised. Metsola.

As of Saturday evening, Eva Kylie has been stripped of all duties delegated by President Roberta Metsola, including those of her representation in the Middle East region.

On Tuesday morning, the Conference of Presidents, the European Parliament’s political body, should begin the procedure for voting to withdraw the vice-president’s position for “gross misconduct”.

After being excluded from the Socialist Party of Greece (Pasok Kinal) in which she was already a controversial figure, but also on Monday from her political group in the European Parliament (S&D, left), Eva Kayli did not take advantage of her parliamentary immunity, because she was found guilty of flagrante delicto . “ticket bags” were discovered in his apartment.

Whether or not he remains in detention, like the detention of the other three people, will be examined on Wednesday before the Brussels Council.

His assets were also frozen on Monday by Greece’s anti-money laundering authority.

“These allegations are deeply troubling. It is a matter of trust in the people at the heart of our institutions,” replied the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, referring to her proposal to create an “independent authority” on ethical issues.

Doha denied involvement in corruption attempts. “Any allegation of misconduct by the State of Qatar is dangerous misrepresentation,” a Qatari government official said on Saturday.

As a calendar opportunity, the European Parliament had to consider facilitating entry visas for Kuwait and Qatar. The topic has been removed from the agenda. Wednesday’s debate on “Defending Democracies Against Foreign Interference” shows promise.

“We must be firm against corruption,” called Iratxi Garcia Perez, head of the S&D group, of which Eva Kaili was a member.

“We will not let our work get dirty, we will not let this Parliament get dirty, we will not let Europe get dirty,” said Frenchman Stéphane Sigourney, president of the Renew Group (Centrists and Liberals).

The former TV presenter, Eva Kayli, 44, Member of the European Parliament since 2014 and elected in January 2022 to one of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament, went to Qatar in early November where, in the presence of the Qatari Minister of Labor, she received the Emirate. reforms in this sector.

Ms. Kylie said November 21 on the platform of Parliament that Qatar’s organization of the World Cup testifies to the “historic transformation of a country whose reforms have inspired the Arab world”.

The new affair seems to have amused Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. “Welcome to the European Parliament!” he quipped on Twitter.