The possible bribery scheme orchestrated by Qatar in the European Parliament, in addition to being a worrying foreign political interference, has some family business elements, both in the case of Eva Kaili, a Greek Socialist MEP and vice-president of the institution, and Pier Antonio Panzeri, former Italian Social Democratic MEP. Kaili, whose initial situation was confusing because as a parliamentarian she has immunity and can only be arrested if she is caught in flagrante delicto, is finally one of the five people arrested on Friday in Brussels, investigated for criminal organization, corruption and money laundering.
Another of them is her father, who was caught while fleeing with several bags full of cash, sources familiar with the investigation have confirmed to La Vanguardia. His accomplices would have warned him of the macro-raid carried out first thing in the morning at various points in the community capital. The agents of the Belgian Public Ministry have not yet quantified the money seized but it is about large amounts, which are added to the almost 600,000 found in another address investigated.
The third detainee is Kaili's partner, with whom he has a baby, is an adviser to the socialist group and previously worked as a parliamentary assistant for Panzeri, who left his seat in 2019 but has remained closely linked to the institution through the NGO Fight Immunity, dedicated to the fight against impunity for serious human rights violations. The NGO is one of the addresses registered by the Belgian police.
Also the wife and daughter of the former deputy, Maria Colleoni and Silvia Panzeri, were arrested on Friday in compliance with a European arrest warrant issued by Belgium, reports the Efe agency. Both gave a statement yesterday Saturday before a judge in Bergamo. Both are in custody awaiting the decision of the Italian court on the petition issued by the Belgian judicial authorities.
Embarrassed, the European socialist group will propose next week to the table of presidents of the European Parliament to withdraw Kaili from her status as an MEP. "In view of the investigation, Eva Kaili should be replaced as vice president of the EP to protect respect for the institution and the trust of citizens," its president, Iratxe García, tweeted. In parallel, President Roberta Metsola last night informed the other 13 vice presidents of her decision to "suspend with immediate effect all the powers, tasks and competences delegated to Kaili as vice president."
The Green group will also propose to remove Kaili from office (only she can decide on her seat) but claims to go further and proceed to a global review of the ethical standards of the European Parliament, says Ernest Urtasun (En Comú Podem). “It is not a case of one, two or three people, it is a case that touches many people. Although they are the only ones responsible for what has happened and not the institution, the European Parliament is going to have to strengthen its internal mechanisms and its code of conduct and monitor external interference”.
Both Kaili and Panzeri have been expelled from their respective parties, Pasok in the case of the Greek and the Democratic Party in the case of the Italian. The socialist group in the European Parliament have suspended Kaili while Pasok, which he has represented since 2014, demands that he resign from his seat. Kaili was in charge of relations with the Middle East and recently traveled to Qatar to meet with the country's labor minister, Samikh al-Marri.
