The ‘Qatar bribery’ scandal that shook Europe grows: ‘The biggest corruption to date’

The scandal of “Qatar bribery” grows, in which the Greek deputy Eva Kaili, vice-president of the European Parliament (EP), was also arrested.

Although the Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office announced that operations related to the case, in which 5 people, including Kaili, were arrested, Kaili was arrested yesterday. Arrest warrants were issued for four people, including Kaili, accused of trying to influence PA decisions by lobbying for Qatar in exchange for bribes.

Although the detainees were accused of belonging to a criminal gang, money laundering and corruption, the two detainees were released.

‘THE GREATEST CORRUPTION SCANDAL’

European sources point out that this is the biggest corruption scandal in the European Parliament. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, also went to Brussels to review operations on the ground.

While searches of 16 houses were carried out during the operations, Luca Visentini, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation, who is Kaili’s boyfriend, and Antonio Panzeri, one of Italy’s leading politicians, are among the names arrested. In the raids, 600,000 euros in cash were seized.

Kaili, 44, a Greek Socialist MP, has been expelled from the Greek PASOK party and from his position as vice-president of the European Parliament responsible for relations with the Middle East, following the scandal.

PRAISE THE RIGHTS OF WORKERS IN QATAR

Eva Kaili met Ali bin Semih al-Mahri, Qatar’s Labor Minister, last month and described Qatar as “the leading country for labor rights.” Kaili also accused some European politicians of discriminating against Qatar.

On the other hand, a Qatari official denied the accusations arguing that they had nothing to do with the bribery scandal.

Qatar is under fire for the deaths of thousands of workers during World Cup construction and bans on the LGBT movement.