EU Parliament lifts immunity of former Vice President Kaili

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Former Greek Vice-President of the European Parliament Eva Kaili (April 2023)

Photo: Hatim Kaghat / Belga / IMAGO

The European Parliament lifted the immunity of its former Vice President Eva Kaili on Tuesday afternoon. This paved the way for an investigation into Kaili's alleged involvement in a 2015 case of fraud against the EU budget worth 150,000 euros ($161,355).

The fraud case is unrelated to the corruption scandal known as “Qatargate,” in which the Greek politician is also involved.

The report, voted on by the EU Parliament, says Kaili is accused of fraudulently spending between 120,000 and 150,000 euros of public money. If found guilty, Kaili could face five to fifteen years in prison under Greek law.

The office of Kaili's lawyer, Spyros Pappas, told the news portal Politico before the vote that he would take further legal action if Kaili's immunity was lifted. It also said that the idea that Kaili could serve a prison sentence based on the outcome of the investigation was "pretty premature and unfounded at this point."

Kaili remains an MEP

Despite the lifted immunity, Kaili, like other Qatargate suspects, remains a MEP with full voting rights, although he is accused of involvement in a criminal organization, corruption and money laundering. Kaili is considered the face of the affair due to her former position in the European Parliament. Shortly after the allegations became known, she lost her position. Investigators had caught Kaili's father with a suitcase full of money that he was apparently supposed to hide for his daughter (read more details from the investigation files here).

A total of around 1.5 million euros in cash was confiscated as a result of “Katargate”. The affair concerns alleged attempts by the Gulf emirate of Qatar and Morocco to bribe representatives of the EU Parliament and thus influence European Union policy. Both countries reject the allegations. As a result, the EU Parliament has already passed several reforms to provide better protection against foreign influence.

aka/Reuters