Vice-President Nicola Beer of the European Parliament (EP) is shocked by the corruption scandal involving her colleague Eva Kaili. German liberal Beer is ‘bewildered’ and fears that this could have a very negative effect on the European Parliament, which has fourteen vice-presidents.
Greek Social Democrat Kaili was one of several MEPs arrested by Belgian police on Friday for questioning by a special anti-corruption unit. Greek and Belgian media reported that at least €600,000 in cash was found in plastic bags at Kaila’s home. They also found his father who wanted to travel with a suitcase full of cash. Kaili’s partner was also questioned.
Belgian police carried out sixteen house searches in Brussels on Friday morning. Several people have been arrested. Belgian media reported that the judiciary mainly targeted Italians around the social democratic group in the European Parliament, but other nationalities were also targeted. Italian union leader Luca Visentini and former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, among others, are said to have been arrested. The names of Belgian Social Democrat MEPs Marc Tarabella and Marie Arena are also mentioned.
The Belgian judiciary believes that people with an important political and/or strategic position in the European Parliament have received large sums of money” and “large gifts” from a Gulf state. The intention was to “try to influence economic decisions and policies of the parliament”.
Source: BNR
Sharon Rock is an author and journalist who writes for 24 News Globe. She has a passion for learning about different cultures and understanding the complexities of the world. With a talent for explaining complex global issues in an accessible and engaging way, Sharon has become a respected voice in the field of world news journalism.
