All the personalities cited in the “Qatargate”, the corruption scandal which splashed the European Parliament but involves, in addition to the emirate, Morocco and Mauritania, will soon have left their place of detention. On Wednesday April 12, the investigating judge Michel Claise, in charge of the case, authorized the release of Eva Kaili, 44, the former Greek vice president of the assembly. Now placed under an electronic bracelet, the elected socialist had been arrested on December 9, 2022. She was in possession of 150,000 euros in cash. Her father, apprehended but quickly released, was carrying a suitcase containing 750,000 euros that she had given to him.
Mme Kaili told investigators that she was tricked by her partner, Francesco Giorgi, who had a close relationship with former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri. The latter, who obtained the status of repentant, has, during his confession, asserted on the contrary that the former star journalist of Greek television was at the heart of the maneuvers he orchestrated with Giorgi, in particular through the foundations that he had created in the Belgian capital.
Mr. Panzeri also obtained, at the end of last week, the right to continue his detention at his home, under electronic surveillance. Another deputy whom he designates as a beneficiary of the money paid by the Qatari regime, the Belgian socialist Marc Tarabella, will be released before the end of the week. He denies the words of Mr. Panzeri, who maintains that he was to receive a total of 250,000 euros.
The conditional release of all those involved, who remain under investigation, indicates that the investigating judge now believes that he has all the elements to complete his case.
Unambitious measures
What consequences will this have for the European Parliament, whose functioning has revealed many flaws? The institution has obviously not yet changed. The fourteen-point plan presented by its president, the Maltese Roberta Metsola, on January 12, to protect the legislative assembly once morest conflicts of interest and the influence of lobbies of all kinds is progressing, but slowly.
On Monday April 17, Parliament’s bureau – its governing body – is expected to adopt one of the president’s most important proposals, but in a much less ambitious version than expected. MEPs who today can, at the end of their mandate, work anywhere, without any waiting period, will now have to wait six months – and not two years, as envisaged – if they want to occupy a position that leads them to use their address book in Strasbourg, for example by working for an interest group.
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