“Qatargate”: the European Parliament launches a procedure to waive immunity for two elected officials

Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella, December 13, 2022 in Brussels.

© REUTERS/Johanna Geron

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Two MEPs have been targeted since Monday, December 2 by an immunity waiver procedure launched by the European Parliament.

This emergency procedure was launched after a request from the Belgian judicial authorities, as part of an investigation into corruption within Parliament involving Qatar.

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With our correspondent in Brussels,

The names of the two MEPs targeted had already appeared in the press.

They are the Belgian Marc Tarabella and the Italian Andrea Cozzolino, both members of the Social Democrat group.

Facing suspicion, they had already been suspended by their respective national parties, the Belgian Socialist Party and the Italian Democratic Party.

If their cases interest the investigators, it is because Francisco Giorgi accuses the two elected officials of having received money from Qatar.

Francisco Giorgi is the former parliamentary assistant to Andrea Cozzolino, already imprisoned for corruption.

He is also a companion of the former Greek vice-president of Parliament, Eva Kaili, also behind bars.

“

No impunity

 ”

There is no reaction from Andrea Cozzolino for the moment, but Marc Tarabella's lawyer indicates that his client is in favor of lifting his immunity and the Belgian deputy, whose home has been searched on December 10, has already claimed that he had " 

 ".

On the side of Parliament, its president, Roberta Metsola announced the decision on Twitter, stating that there will be “ 

 ”.

Following a request from the Belgian judicial authorities, I have launched an urgent procedure for the waiver of immunity of two Members of the European Parliament.

There will be no impunity.

None.

— Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) January 2, 2023

The request for waiver of immunity will be formally communicated to MEPs during the next plenary session in Strasbourg, mid-January.

Then, it will be examined by the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, which can then propose a decision.

This will then be submitted to the vote of all MEPs.

The Presidency of Parliament hopes to move quickly, and conclude the procedure before February 13.

The investigation needs to move forward as quickly as possible.

Which seems to be the case.

Manon Aubry, LFI MEP

Juliette Gheerbrant

As a reminder, as part of this investigation into corruption within Parliament

, Belgian investigators got their hands on 1.5 million euros in cash.

Four people are currently detained for corruption: the Greek vice-president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, her companion, Francesco Giorgi, the head of NGOs, Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, and the former Socialist MEP, the Italian Pier Antonio Panzeri.

►Also read: “Qatargate”: a mainly Italian network, operated by Qatar and Moroccan intelligence

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