Amid FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Belgian police arrested Greek Socialist MEP Eva Kaili on Friday at the European Parliament on charges of corruption and money laundering. Kaili, one of 14 vice presidents at the European legislative body, was brought in for interrogation in connection with illicit lobbying activities by Qatar. Law enforcement agents raided 16 addresses in Brussels as part of the investigation. They found €600.000 and seized computer equipment and mobile phones.
Belgian authorities believe Qatar tried to sway the European Parliament by “paying large sums of money or offering large gifts to third parties with a significant political and/or strategic position within the European Parliament.” The Belgian police suspect that the country transferred “consequential sums of money” or “important gifts” to significant actors within the European Parliament.
European Parliament sources told Euronews that Eva Kaili‘s office had been sealed by Belgium police, along with those of two Belgian socialist MEPs, Maria Arena and Marc Tarabella. Arena denied any involvement, stating that the investigation involved her assistant instead.
Belgian outlets Le Soir and Knack reported those detained alongside Kaili included Luca Visentini, secretary general of the International Trade Union Confederation, and Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former S&D MEP from Italy who chaired the Parliament’s human rigths subcommittee.
The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), one of Greece’s main opposition parties, said in a statement Friday: “Following the latest developments and the investigation by Belgian authorities into corruption of European officials, MEP Eva Kaili is expelled from PASOK-Movement of change by decision of President Nikos Androulakis.”
