The developments in the corruption scandal that broke out in the European Parliament, with the Greek vice-president Eva Kaili being directly involved, are fast-paced. The president, Roberta Metsola, communicated to the rest of the MEPs and to Mrs. Kaili herself, a letter in which she informs that she has removed all the powers she had.
The news was announced by the MEP and vice-president of the European Parliament, Dimitris Papadimoulis. “President Roberta Metsola, by her decision, which has just been communicated to us, suspends – with immediate effect – all the powers she had assigned to the Vice-President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili. The procedures for her final removal from the Bureau of the EP are being accelerated”, he characteristically wrote on Twitter.
The president of the Eurosocialists requests a Conference of Presidents on Kaili
Ms. Kaili remains in custody while the procedures to remove her from her position proceed rapidly. The president of the Socialists and Democrats, Irace García Pérez, announced in a message on Twitter that she will bring the matter to the next Conference of Presidents, so that the procedure foreseen by the Regulation of the European Parliament can proceed.
“The S&D will ask for a new item on the agenda of the next conference of EP presidents, based on the article. 21 of the Regulation. Given the investigation, Eva Kaili should be replaced as the vice-president of the EP in order to protect the dignity of the institution and the trust of the citizens”, he characteristically wrote on Twitter.
At the same time, both the Socialists and Democrats, as well as the Greens, have announced that they will block the visa process for Qatari citizens, after the revelation of the corruption scandal.
How can Eva Kaili be deposed
Eva Kaili’s detention, which has not turned into an arrest, as it was clarified that in order to be arrested she would have to be caught committing a crime in order for her immunity to be lifted automatically, has not led to her removal. This can happen following procedures followed by the European Parliament in these cases. Mobility exists and already the Greens but also the Socialists and Democrats are expected to proceed as planned. After all, the latter have already deleted Ms. Kaili from their political group, which PASOK also did on Friday night.
The regulation of the European Parliament on the removal from the position of the vice-president of the House, provides for a Conference of Presidents and a three-fifths majority, representing three political groups, so that it is proposed to the Plenary to terminate the term of office of the Vice-President if it is considered that the member in question has commit a serious offence. Parliament then decides on the proposal by a two-thirds majority.
Eva Kaili remains in custody – Announcements on Sunday
As it became known, the competent prosecutor in Brussels, Belgium will decide by noon today on the fate of Mrs. Kaili. Until then, Ms. Kaili will remain in custody. Earlier sources from Brussels said that at noon on Sunday, around 1:00 p.m., there will be announcements from the investigator and prosecutor. In the press release that will be issued, it will be explained whether and what charges will be laid.
The investigation remains active, with the case taking on huge dimensions, for this reason the Belgian authorities are sparing in their statements. The information has been leaked with the … dropper, while it remains unknown even where Ms. Kaili and the other persons who have been brought by the Belgian authorities are in custody.
According to information, the investigations had started since the summer. The Belgian authorities have worked under the utmost secrecy since they had clues, and have taken specific steps to get to the bottom of the case. Belgian and Italian publications report that the tangle began to unravel from the former Italian MEP Panzeri, and some conversations he had with his family. From there it started, to get to Friday when the huge operation took place in 16 places in Brussels which resulted in the detention of people, the confiscation of electronic devices and mobile phones as well as 600,000 euros in cash.
Publications in Belgium report that Eva Kaili’s father was also brought in, who was allegedly caught red-handed with a bag full of banknotes. According to the Belgians, it was an attempt to transfer the money after Ms Kaili’s partner was brought in on Friday morning.
The revelations about the World Cup and the vote in a committee for Qatar
British journalist Jack Parrock reveals new aspects of the case on Twitter. In addition to Eva Kaili’s speech to the European Parliament in November, where she praised Qatar despite the barrage of protests and backlash over the bloody World Cup, Parok reveals that Eva Kaili attended the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup in the Gulf country.
And if the presence of the Vice-President of the European Parliament in the stands of the Al-Bayt stadium for the start of a global sporting event such as the World Cup may not be considered a fault, the new revelation of the British journalist comes to give a new dimension to the corruption case. According to Jack Parok, Eva Kaili on December 1 voted in favor of visa liberalization for Qatar and Kuwait, in the LIBE committee of the European Parliament.
The issue, in this case, is not simply the positive vote of Eva Kaili in this committee, but the fact that she was not even a member of it. In essence, Mrs. Kaili replaced another MEP of the political group to which she previously belonged, so that she could attend and vote in favor. In fact, according to comments received by the British journalist, Mark Tarabeya, also an S&D MEP, did the same.
“Culture of impunity in the European Parliament”
In any case, the case has caused a political “earthquake” in Europe. The operation of the Belgian police in the European Parliament in the case of corruption in relation to Qatar is causing strong reactions in Brussels, where MEPs and non-governmental organizations are calling for an urgent debate to improve the functioning of the rules of ethics in this great institution of the European Union.
“This is not an isolated incident,” according to Transparency International. “For many decades now, Parliament has allowed the development of a culture of impunity and a total absence of independent moral scrutiny.”
This control is “defective” in the institution (European Parliament), Alberto Alemano, Professor of Law at the College de l’Europe in Bruges, wrote on Twitter.
At the same time, in Qatar, the authorities are investigating the country’s ambassador to the European Union, Abdulazizi Bin Ahmed Al Malki, for possible involvement in the case.
