Over the weekend, a controversy erupted in Europe as several people were arrested, including an MEP, for allegedly taking bribes from Qatar
A European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg Image: Shutterstock/Drop of Light ON FRIDAY, NEWS broke that four people had been arrested by police in Brussels over suspected corruption at the European Parliament.
Speaking earlier today, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said that she had stripped Kaili of her role as vice president as “an effort to protect the integrity of this house”. During a press conference this afternoon, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described the charges against Kaili as being of “utmost concern” and that they were “very serious”.
While Belgian authorities did not detail the country, it was reported shortly after that the allegations surrounded Qatari officials, who had allegedly provided huge cash bribes to MEPs and other European officials.“Four individuals have been arrested by the Brussels investigating judge who is leading the investigation.Police carried out 16 raids across Brussels on Friday, seizing €600,000 in cash alongside IT equipment and mobile phones.
During her time in the Greek parliament, Kaili was the youngest elected MP of the socialist PASOK party.Following the fallout from the ongoing controversy, Kaili has been suspended from PASOK, with some members calling on her to resign as an MEP.This morning, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney told reporters that the allegations were “damaging”.“We need to have, obviously a full and transparent investigation so we can have an explanation for what happened.
“The enemies of democracy for whom the very existence of this Parliament is a threat, will stop at nothing. These malign actors, linked to autocratic third countries have allegedly weaponised NGOs, Unions, individuals, assistants and Members of the European Parliament in an effort to subdue our processes,” Metsola said.
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