Metsola announces internal investigation into Qatar bribery case: "We won't sweep anything under the rug"

The European socialists will appear as an affected party in the case for alleged bribery of MEPs from their group

BRUSELAS, 12 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, has announced this Monday an internal investigation to review all the facts in relation to the institution and has assured that "there will be no impunity" for those who have responsibilities in the corruption plot uncovered in Belgium by the alleged payment of bribes to MEPs and staff of the European Parliament by Qatar.

"We are not going to sweep anything under the rug," Metsola said in a long speech at the opening of the plenary session in Strasbourg (France) to firmly censor corruption, regretting that what he considers an "attack" on the institution and to democracy from those who try to buy favors and warn that Parliament "will always be on the side of the law".

The Maltese politician has said that they have been "the longest days of her life" and has expressed both her "fury" and her "rage and sadness" for the facts investigated, while confirming that she has been collaborating with the Belgian authorities in the investigation and that over the weekend he was present at one of the raids.

The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office has confirmed shortly after that the investigation for corruption, money laundering and criminal organization has been open "more than four months" before acting last Friday, when about twenty searches were carried out, offices were sealed in the headquarters in Brussels of the Eurocámara that this Monday six people have been registered and were arrested, of which four remain deprived of liberty and on Wednesday they will testify before the judge.

Among the defendants is the Greek MEP Eva Kaili, who occupies one of the fourteen vice-presidencies of the European Parliament and at whose home some 600,000 euros were found during the searches. In two other actions, the Belgian authorities seized "several hundred thousand euros" in a suitcase in a hotel room and another 150,000 euros at the home of another MEP.

In this context, Metsola stripped Kaili of her functions and representation tasks as vice-president over the weekend, although it will be the plenary session of the European Parliament that must decide on her dismissal as vice-president, if confirmed early on Tuesday by the Conference of Presidents (CoP) that brings together the leaders of all groups.

"I know that this is not the end of the road, we are going to continue helping in the investigations for as long as it is necessary," defended Metsola, who has also asked the group of MEPs not to try to get political gain from the situation.

"I want to be clear about the accusations, we are not talking about left or right, nor north or south. It is about what is right and what is wrong and I urge you to resist the temptation to exploit this moment for political purposes. Do not belittle the threat we face", he stressed.

During the debate that has continued, the leaders of the political parties have taken the floor to condemn the cases of corruption investigated, warn that this situation harms democracy and defend the honesty of the majority of MEPs.

The president of the Socialists and Democrats (S

For this reason, García has announced, the group of European socialists have decided to "appear as the injured party" in the case whose judicial process begins in Belgium for the alleged corruption plot led by Qatar.

Meanwhile, the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted this weekend to the accusations, assuring in a statement that any links to the plot with the Qatari government are "unfounded" and "serious misinformation."