The European Union Parliament lifts the protecting immunity of two deputies linked to the “Qatargate” graft scandal
The European Union parliament on Thursday revoked the protecting immunity of two lawmakers linked to one of many greatest corruption scandals ever within the bloc, paving the best way for his or her questioning by Belgian investigators.
In a present of palms, the parliament voted overwhelmingly to raise the parliamentary immunity of Belgian MP Marc Tarabella and Italian Andrea Cozzolino. Each males have beforehand mentioned, by way of their attorneys, that they’re prepared to cooperate with the Belgian authorities.
And reside tv footage confirmed that Tarabella voted in favor of elevating his immunity.
The 2 denied any connection to the scandal, by which Qatari and Moroccan officers are suspected of providing bribes to affect the choices of the European Parliament. Qatar and Morocco additionally strongly denied their involvement, however the council suspended work on all information associated to Qatar.
Based on the report ready to permit the lifting of Tarapala’s immunity, a Belgian investigation confirmed that he “could have been concerned in acts of corruption linked to the intervention of a number of overseas states with the purpose of influencing discussions and choices taken within the European Parliament.”
It mentioned that “the testimony in opposition to him advised that such funds have been made to him on quite a few events, amounting to between” €120,000 and €140,000 ($132,000 and $154,000).
Cozzolino’s report mentioned the Italian EU lawmaker “is suspected of getting, from 2019 onwards, participated in an settlement with different individuals to cooperate in defending the pursuits of overseas international locations within the European Parliament.”
The report acknowledged that this was apparently completed, at the least partially, by “obstructing the adoption of parliamentary choices which may hurt the pursuits of these international locations in trade for sums of cash.”
Tarabella and Cozzolino belong to the centre-left Socialists and Democrats – the second largest political group within the meeting and which has been hit exhausting by corruption allegations.
The scandal emerged in early December after authorities launched a collection of raids throughout Brussels, and in Italy, seizing a whole bunch of 1000’s of euros.
4 individuals have been charged with corruption, cash laundering and belonging to a prison group. They’re S&D lawmaker Eva Cayley, who was the affiliation’s vice chairman till the accusations surfaced; her accomplice and parliamentary aide Francesco Giorgi; Pier Antonio Panzieri, former lawmaker for S&D; and President of the Nicolo Vega Talamanca Charitable Group.
Panziri has since reached an settlement with Belgian prosecutors to behave as an informant. He promised to disclose the names of these concerned and the way the cash might be transferred in return for a lighter sentence.
(AP)
