Corruption scandal with Qatar shakes the European Parliament
Belgian judge charges four people after confiscation of €600,000 in cash

Qatar is the center of global attention ahead of next week's World Cup semi-finals and final. But that's not the only reason: there are allegations that the country has tried to gain influence in the European Parliament. As part of the international investigation into the allegations, the Belgian police have now confiscated 600,000 euros in cash and arrested a MEP.
After numerous arrests and house searches over the weekend, which also included searching the homes of two MPs and the family of a former MP in Italy, a Belgian judge on Sunday charged four people with "membership in a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption".
Allegations against MEPs have already led to resignations and the postponement of a parliamentary vote scheduled for next week that would have given Qatari citizens visa-free travel to the EU.
The arrest of the four people and the subsequent detention of family members of a former Italian MEP who the Qataris are said to have offered a holiday worth €100,000 has shocked lawmakers. The "culture of impunity" in parliament has been criticized by activists.
Belgian prosecutors said they believe that third parties in political and/or strategic positions within the European Parliament paid huge sums of money or received large gifts in order to influence the Parliament's decision.
Doha has denied all allegations. A representative said that any connection between the Qatari government and the allegations was baseless and a big mistake.
Eva Kaili, a vice-president of the European Parliament, has lost her membership of the Greek socialist party Pasok and her responsibilities in the legislature, while the Belgian authorities have not released the names of the suspects.
Last month, Kaili, a former TV presenter, defended Qatar's human rights record in parliament and hailed the country as a "pioneer on labor rights" for its decision to scrap a system that encourages foreign workers.
Other MPs, Kaili said, "try to discriminate against Qatar and blame anyone who communicates with them or is involved in corruption, but still they take their gas," she claimed. The media has not yet received a response to Kaili's request for comment.





