This is the biggest corruption scandal in the European Parliament. And the suspension continues. Belgian justice has decided to keep the prison for the two defendants from Qatargate, and MEP Eva Kyle will appear in a week.
The Belgian press reported that a strike by prison officers had prevented the former European Parliament vice-president from appearing before a judge at a hearing to decide whether to keep Qatari in prison.
The session was postponed until December 22. As his lawyer Andre Risopoulos explained to Les Echos.
In turn, the Prosecutor’s Office announced at around 18:00 that “as part of a large-scale investigation by the Federal Public Ministry and the Federal Police regarding an alleged criminal organization, corruption and money laundering, three persons appeared today in the afternoon.” Courtroom. Council of the Court of First Instance of Brussels”.
“By his order this afternoon,” the Belgian prosecutor’s office said, “the chamber confirmed the preventive detention of F.G. [Francesco Giorgi] and PP [Pier Antonio Panzeri]”.
In turn, “NF-T [ Niccolo Figa-Talamanca] He also remains in custody, but with an electronic bracelet.”
Similarly, “respondent E.K [Eva Kaili] He was not present at today’s session because he asked for continuation; He will appear before the cameras on December 22. If they appeal this decision within 24 hours, they will appear in the indictment chamber of the Brussels Court of Appeal within 15 days.”
The European Parliament starts an internal investigation
I handle everything related to Qatar, be it visa suspensions or preferential arrangements with Qatar Airways. There is no limit to the doubts that the legislative work in the European Parliament was carried out cleanly. Also, suspending the credentials of any representative of the country of Qatar. These are some of the points in the joint resolution agreed by all groups in the European Parliament after the Qatargate debate at the plenary session in Strasbourg on Tuesday and which will be voted on on Thursday morning. Meanwhile, those arrested will appear in a Belgian court this Wednesday, including former European Parliament vice-president Eva Kyle.
The text of the consensus resolution addresses the fact that “confidence in the integrity of Parliament and the rule of law is essential for the functioning of European democracy”; Because “it is necessary to guarantee that democratic processes will not be hijacked by private and external interests and that the rights of citizens will be fully protected”.
Although this is a consensus text, groups can make changes. For example, the La Izquierda group wants to raise concerns about the activities of Morocco, which are also mentioned in the bribes of MEP Antonio Panzer.
Thus, the text indicates that the non-governmental organization “Fighting Impunity”, which belongs to the former MEP Antonio Panzer, in the center of the plot “”is not registered in the transparency register. […] A central part of the ethical framework and transparency of the European institutions”.
From this point of view, the document protects that “being influenced by the arguments of interest representatives [lobistas] decision-making in the Parliament is a vital part of European democracy’, but that ‘on the contrary, improper means of influence, bribery and other criminal offenses are unacceptable’.
In addition, the MEPs “underline that the regulation and control of friendship groups is a prerequisite for their presence in the Parliament”; They recommend “Revision of the Statute of Public Servants to bring it in line with the norms of the Whistleblower Directive”; They call for “further strengthening of the capacity and cooperation of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and OLAF, and common anti-corruption rules applicable to members and staff of EU bodies”.
Thus, the European Parliament “suspends all work on legislative files related to Qatar, especially regarding visa liberalization and planned visits, until the suspicions are confirmed or cleared.”
Source: El Diario
