European Parliament MP arrested for corruption had 750,000 euros in cash

Eva Kaili, Vice President of the European Parliament, has been suspended from all duties in the last 10 years, and it was reported that there was approximately 750,000 euros in cash in the bags at her home and in the suitcase that her father was carrying at the time of his arrest. Belgian media this Monday (12).

The coin’s count is yet to be finalized, according to the newspaper “L’Echo”, but preliminary estimates suggest that this amount is divided into 20 and 50 euro notes. About 600,000 people were in Kaili’s father’s suitcase and the rest in the house of the then Greek lawmaker.

In addition, due to the disclosures in the Belgian media, the Athens government informed that all of the representative’s assets were frozen until the investigations were closed.

The politician was arrested last Friday (9) during a major operation by the Brussels police against Qatar’s corruption and money laundering scheme, which will bribe members of the European Parliament and parliamentary advisers to vote measures in favor of the country – he is constantly accused of violating human rights.

Kaili was arrested, even taking advantage of parliamentary immunity, as the act was a crime with so much unfair money found in his residence. All three Italians are still detained: Francesco Giorgi, adviser to the Socialists and Democrats group and husband of the Greek, Antonio Panzeri, former Member of the European Parliament, and Niccolò Figa-Talamanca, director of the NGO No to Unjust Peace.

Others detained on Friday, including Kaili’s father, have been moved to their homes or released on condition.

Belgian MP Marc Tarabella, who was the target of a search and seizure at his home on Saturday, is also being investigated.

The politician gave an interview to the newspaper “Le Soir” this Monday and said, “I have not received any gifts from Qatar.”

According to the parliamentarian, he believes his name was confused because of one of his advisers, who is also Italian, identified only by the initials GM, and who has “worked for many years” for Panzeri.

Reactions – Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, spoke about the scandal for the first time since the case was revealed.

“The allegations against the Vice-President of the European Parliament are extremely worrying, very serious. It is a matter of people’s trust in our institutions, and this trust requires the highest standards of independence and integrity. An independent ethical body covering all EU institutions,” said the Chief Executive.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also commented on the incident, saying that the Parliament was the “victim” of their behavior and that it was always necessary to separate institutions from “individual criminal responsibility”.

“I hope investigations will focus on those involved in the incident, which has already done so much damage to the European Union’s only democratic institution, the European Parliament,” the Chancellor said. directly elected by the people.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock spoke about the scandal and described the situation as “really incredible”. Without the “if” or “but”, the law must be clarified in all seriousness because it also and especially affects Europe’s credibility. We haven’t seen anything like this in a long time,” she said.