The European Parliament lifts the immunity of two MEPs targeted by Belgian justice
The European Parliament before a plenary session in Brussels.
REUTERS - POOL
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
MEPs gathered in Brussels voted by a show of hands and gave the green light to the lifting of immunity of Belgian Marc Tarabella and Italian Andrea Cozzolino as part of an investigation into corruption within Parliament involving Qatar.
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Suspected of having received bribes to promote the interests of Qatar and Morocco in the European Parliament, the Belgian Marc Tarabella and the Italian Andrea Cozzolino, temporarily excluded from the Socialists & Democrats (S&D) group, deny any embezzlement .
Marc Tarabella, present in the hemicycle, voted for the lifting of his own immunity.
“
It is to justice that I will deliver information on the questions that (the investigators) will want to ask me.
I want justice to do its job
,” said the Belgian MEP on leaving.
“
I want justice to do its job
”
The two elected officials will therefore be able to be heard by the Belgian courts.
“
It is to justice that I will deliver information on the questions that (the investigators) will want to ask me.
I want justice to do its job
,” said the Belgian MEP on leaving.
Eric Van Duyse, spokesman for the Belgian federal prosecutor's office, for his part, estimated that from now on, "
everything will be possible, (...) that does not necessarily mean that there will be coercive measures, but justice is given all the means to be able to work as for any litigant
”.
The parliamentary report on the lifting of their immunity written by French MEP Manon Aubry (LFI) mentions "
cash rewards
"
via
the testimony of the Italian Pier Antonio Panzeri, a former socialist MEP turned NGO leader who claimed in December to have paid "
between 120,000 and 140,000 euros
", in several installments to Marc Tarabella for his assistance in matters related to Qatar.
Agreement with the court
Pier Antonio Panzeri, charged and remanded in custody like three other suspects, reached an agreement with the courts in January.
He undertakes to provide information on the system of corruption in which he admits to having participated, in exchange for a prison sentence limited to one year.
(
With
AFP)
► Also to listen: Carrefour de l'Europe - Will the shock wave of Qatargate force the European Parliament to improve its practices?
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