Sylvie Claire / December 12, 2022
The Greek vice-president of the European Parliament Eva Kaili and three other people were charged and imprisoned Sunday in Belgium in an investigation into suspicions of corruption linked to Qatar within this EU institution, a judicial source told AFP.
She could not benefit from her parliamentary immunity because the offence she is accused of was discovered "in flagrante delicto" on Friday, the same source explained. This source confirmed press reports that Ms. Kaili was in possession of "bags of cash" on Friday evening when the Belgian police arrested her. The Federal Prosecutor's Office also announced that a search had taken place on Saturday evening at the home of a second MEP. The Brussels home of Ms. Kaili had been searched Friday evening. It is the Belgian Marc Tarabella, he confirmed to the Belga agency. He said he had "nothing to hide" and said he wanted to collaborate with the investigation. Saturday evening the president of the European Parliament, the Maltese Roberta Metsola, had decided a first sanction against Eva Kaili. The Greek vice-president was removed from all tasks delegated by Ms. Metsola, including representing her in the Middle East region.
Left-wing MEPs, including Philippe Lamberts on behalf of the Green group in the European Parliament, called for the resignation of Ms. Kaili, who was expelled on Friday evening from the Greek Socialist Party (Pasok-Kinal).