José Ramón Bauzá, in the crosshairs of the scandal of the collection of commissions in Qatar

The MEP of Cs José Ramón Bauzá is in the spotlight due to the scandal of the collection of commissions to defend the interests of Qatar before the European Union.

Thomas Osborne
Thomas Osborne
13 December 2022 Tuesday 06:34
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José Ramón Bauzá, in the crosshairs of the scandal of the collection of commissions in Qatar

The MEP of Cs José Ramón Bauzá is in the spotlight due to the scandal of the collection of commissions to defend the interests of Qatar before the European Union. Bauzá is the president of an entity called the Qatar-European Union Friendship Group, connected to the Qatari embassy in Belgium, which includes a dozen MEPs. Bauzá is the only representative of Spain.

Given the enormous commotion caused by this case, the MEP has announced via Twitter that he is temporarily suspending this group until the scandal is definitively clarified. The vice president of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, has been arrested and dismissed from office and several MEPs are being investigated by the Belgian Prosecutor's Office for the collection of commissions paid by the Gulf country.

"Given the very serious events of recent days and until we get to the bottom of the matter, I announce the suspension of the EU-Qatar Friendship Group," he announced. The website of the Qatari embassy in Belgium explains that these groups are organized "voluntarily" to "promote" contacts between the EU and Qatar and advance bilateral relations, which implies "exchange of opinions and information and, in parallel , meetings with representatives of the Government and civil society".

Bauzá has made numerous interventions in the European Parliament in favor of the Gulf countries, the last one last November in a session presided over, precisely, by the detained MEP. She has held meetings with members of the Qatari regime, including the emirate's Transport Minister, Jassim bin Saif Al Sulait, as well as contacts with the Qatari ambassador in Belgium.

He has acknowledged his support for the Gulf country, highlighting the progress in which it is immersed, but denies that this defense is related to the payment of commissions. "I have defended in the European Parliament that Qatar's advances are good news for the Middle East. I believed it and I believe it. Now, if it is shown that they have paid a deputy or adviser to influence them in their favor, we must be absolutely forceful against everyone," said the former Balearic president on Twitter.

Bauzá affirms that he has never received money from the Qatari regime, although he acknowledges that he has held "public" meetings and has always done so "with an official invitation". In fact, in the register of activities of the European Parliament, there is a trip to Qatar made in February 2020 paid for by Qatar Airways and with accommodation at the Sheraton Grand Doha Resort. He participated in the World Aviation Convention organized by the airlines and since then there have been frequent tweets from the MEP in which he praises the service of this aviation company with which he flies for free.

In justification on Twitter, the former Balearic president affirms that the dignity of the institutions, "which is the ultimate support of democracy", is above all else and announces that his group will support a debate in plenary and an investigation in this regard to clarify until the last doubt. "Zero tolerance for corruption," he adds. He also offers to give explanations that are requested. "Transparency, transparency and transparency. The only possible answer", he concludes.

Bauzá was part of the Cs lists for the European Parliament after leaving the PP and joining this formation. Bauzá was president of the Balearic Government between 2011 and 2015 and presided over the training in the Islands during that period. After losing the elections in 2011 he was elected regional senator.