The reform tracks aimed at improving the transparency of the functioning of the parliamentary assembly seem to be bogged down. The scandal prompted deputies to declare, with delay, trips at the invitation of third -party states or foreign organizations. According to declarations made since 2019, it is in Israel, India and the United Arab Emirates that elected officials have most often stayed.
by Jean-Pierre Stroobants (Brussels, Bureau European)
The Brussels investigating judge Michel Claise does not intend to give up the file of “Morocco-Qatargate”, even if the lawyer for MEP Marc Tarabella, one of the alleged actors of the scandal on the interference foreign to European Parliament, has submitted a demand for challenge against him. The lawyer for the elected Belgian socialist believes that, in the arrest warrant he issued on February 11, the judge Claise presumes the guilt of his client by invoking his changes of opinion about the Qatari regime. The Brussels Court of Appeal must decide next week.
m. Tarabella is in detention until mid-March at least, like Pier Antonio Panzeri, the alleged “brain” of the corruption case that broke out on December 9, 2022, and Eva Kaili, ex-president of the European Parliament. The companion of the latter, Francesco Giorgi, was released Thursday, February 23 and placed under the regime of the electronic bracelet.
Lawyers for the Greek elected official claimed her release so that she can take care of her 24 -month -old child. The Brussels Council Chamber, however, opposed it, arousing the anger of a dozen Italian socialist euméputs who denounced the “torture” of which M me kaili would be victim. M e
é> sven mary, one of the councils of the Greek elected official, believes that the maintenance in detention is only justified by the words of Mr. Panzeri “which lied for two months and who , now repentant, would have a Word of Gospel “.
International mandates launched by Belgian justice “leak” now and confirm that the file has not delivered all its secrets. Thus, a request sent to Greece and seen by media in this country evokes “several million euros” which would have been paid by Morocco and Qatar. We had previously mentioned the entry of 1.5 million in total. The mandate would also indicate that on December 9, the day Mr. Giorgi was the first apprehended, M Me Kaili called in urgency Mr. Panzeri “and two other deputies”, whose names are not mentioned.
sanctions never applied
Another shipment to Italian justice intrigues. A court of Naples must decide on February 28 on the delivery to Belgium of MEP Andrea Cozzolino, a close to Mr. Panzeri. In a mandate of February 10, judge Claise mentioned the name of two socialist elected officials, the Italian Alessandra Moretti and the Belgian Marie Arena. They would be suspected of having also acted in favor of Qatar. M me Arena denies any involvement, M
me Moretti indicated to the Politico site: “I have never followed the instructions of Mr. Panzeri.”
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