European Parliament suspends Vice President Eva Kaili over alleged Qatari bribery

BRUSELAS, 10 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The European Parliament has announced this Saturday the suspension of the vice president of the European Parliament, the Greek socialist Eva Kaili, in relation to a plot of alleged bribes by Qatar to people who could influence the decision-making of the European institution.

Given the "ongoing investigations being carried out by the Belgian authorities", the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola "has decided to suspend with immediate effect all the powers, tasks and competences delegated to Eva Kaili as vice president" of the chamber, reported the spokesperson for the European Parliament.

Metsola had already confirmed this Saturday that the European Parliament has "fully cooperated" with the relevant police and legal authorities in relation to possible cases of bribery by Qatar to Kaili.

"Our European Parliament stands firm against corruption. At this stage, we cannot comment on any ongoing investigation, except to confirm that we have fully cooperated with all relevant law enforcement and legal authorities and will do so," Metsola said.

In a publication on her official profile on the social network Twitter, the President of the European Parliament has remarked that the body will do "everything possible" to help and collaborate so that Justice can take its course.

Belgian police searched the home of Kaili on Friday, who was also questioned, in connection with a plot of alleged bribery by Qatar to people who could influence decision-making in the European Parliament.

The Federal Prosecutor's Office also reported the arrest of four people and up to 16 searches carried out in various neighborhoods of Brussels in the framework of an investigation into an "alleged criminal organization of corruption and money laundering" that for months had been seeking on behalf of of a Gulf country to influence the "economic and political" decisions of the European Parliament.