Investigators have allegedly targeted over sixty members of the European Parliament, most of whom are leftists, as a part of a probe into the European Parliament corruption scandal in which Qatar’s autocratic regime allegedly sought to influence the institution by bribing its officials.
The ongoing corruption scandal, initially revealed to the public last week with the arrest of European Parliament Vice President Eva Kaili and former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, who had €1.5 million in cash seized from their homes, may be much larger in scope than had been originally expected, with the Belgian judiciary allegedly investigating more than 60 MEPs, most of whom are members of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) grouping, according to FOCUS ONLINE.
As Politico Europe reports:
[Panzeri’s] family, investigators write, appeared wise to his illicit behavior, according to the warrant seeking their extradition to Belgium from Italy.
Panzeri’s wife, Maria Dolores Colleoni, and his daughter Silvia Panzeri “seem to be fully aware of the activities,” it says, “and to even participate in the transport of the gifts.”
The man behind these gifts? Abderrahim Atmoun, Morocco’s ambassador to Poland, according to the document.
Pazeri’s wife and daughter remain in Italian custody after having been arrested on December 8th. Almost surely, the two will be extradited to Belgium where they could face prison terms up to five years.
As The European Conservative previously reported, last Tuesday, December 13th, Greek MEP Eva Kaili was removed from her post as a vice president of the European Parliament after lawmakers voted with an overwhelming majority of 625 in favor and one against. Presently, Kaili is in custody at Saint-Gilles and is set to appear on Thursday before a Belgian court.
If found guilty, Kaili could face up to 15 years behind bars.
