Monday, Belgian detectives searched European Parliament premises in Brussels as part of an investigation into suspected bribery by World Cup host Qatar.
It was the twentieth search since Friday, and Roberta Metsola, head of the European Parliament, warned MEPs that “democracy is under threat.”
Belgian police have prosecuted four individuals, including Greek MEP Eva Kaili, vice-president of the European Parliament.
Qatar has denied any wrongdoing, and Ms. Kaili’s attorney maintains her innocence.
“She declares her innocence and says she has nothing to do with Qatari bribes,” Michalis Dimitrakopoulos said Tuesday on Greek television.
Approximately €600,000 ($632,000; £515,000) in cash was discovered at the residence of one suspect, €150,000 in the apartment of an MEP, and several hundred thousand euros in a bag in a Brussels hotel room, according to Belgian prosecutors. Additionally, computers and mobile phones were stolen.
When asked if money was discovered in Ms. Kaili’s flat, her attorney responded, “I have no idea if or how much money was discovered.”
The charges have placed doubt on the function of lobbying organizations in the European Parliament. This week, MEPs were scheduled to vote on a recommendation to grant Qataris visa-free travel to the EU, but that vote has been postponed.
Three of the four suspects are believed to be Italian, including Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former Italian MEP who currently leads a human rights organization.
There have been searches in both Italy and Brussels. Since Friday, the IT resources of ten parliament staff have been “frozen” to prevent the loss of investigation-critical material.
Prosecutors stated in a statement on Sunday that the four suspects captured by Belgian police had been accused of “membership in a criminal organization, money laundering, and corruption.” On Wednesday, they will appear before a pretrial court.
Ms. Kaili, a member of the European Parliament for eight years, was relieved of her duties as one of 14 vice presidents by the parliament’s president, Ms. Metsola. Before an emergency debate on the controversy, the European Parliament in Strasbourg will vote on Tuesday to deprive Ms. Kaili of her position.
She has also been removed from the Greek center-left Pasok party and suspended from the Socialists and Democrats Group of the parliament.
The Greek government has blocked the assets of Ms. Kaili, her husband, and their immediate relatives.
The activities of a property firm established in Athens by the MEP and her husband approximately two weeks ago have also been halted.
On Friday, six individuals were held as part of an inquiry into suspicions that Qatar bribed EU officials to gain influence. Two were eventually released.
No suspects have been publicly identified, but Ms. Kaili is believed to be among those indicted.
The three other accused are all Italian nationals, and her partner, parliamentary staffer Francesco Giorgi, is apparently among those prosecuted.
Sources indicate that former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, who currently directs the human rights organization Fight Impunity, is also among the four. According to reports, his wife and daughter were also arrested.
According to the Italian news agency Ansa, another suspect is Niccol Figa-Talamanca, who manages the lobbying group No Peace Without Justice.
Luca Visentini, the general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, was questioned and afterward released. He then stated that he had answered all inquiries posed to him.
Jessica Parker, states that the information given by Belgian authorities in the previous few days has stunned many in EU circles.
According to MEPs who spoke with our correspondent, they are stunned by the scope and brazenness of the claims.
President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen described the allegations as “very serious” and urged for the establishment of a new ethics authority to supervise the union.
Ms. Metsola assured MEPs that the integrity of the parliament will be restored.
She stated, “European democracy and our free and democratic society are under siege.”
The bribery inquiry could be one of the largest corruption scandals in the history of the European Parliament, according to watchdogs and MEPs.
Prosecutors stated they had suspicions that a Gulf state had influenced the economic and political decisions of the parliament over a period of several months, particularly by targeting aides.
Local media have identified the state as Qatar, despite the Qatari government’s assertion that any allegations of wrongdoing are “grossly mistaken.”
As vice president, Ms. Kaili is responsible for the Middle East. She has been a Qatari defender in the past.
Green MEP Daniel Freund, who chairs a cross-party anti-corruption group, told that the European Parliament had “pretty good lobby disclosure laws,” but excluded third nations such as Qatar. Therefore, I believe that third countries should be registered as lobbyists.
The European Parliament is the only institution directly elected by EU citizens. 705 members of parliament, chosen by citizens of the 27 EU member states, convene to examine proposed legislation and vote on European law.
The parliament states that immunity from prosecution does not apply when a member is “caught in the act of committing an offense.”
