The developments in the operation of the Belgian authorities which started on Friday, are rapid. The case has to do with corruption related to Qatar’s financing to people related to the European Parliament, with Greek socialist European Parliament vice-president Eva Kaili as a central figure.
The fate of the Greek MEP remains unclear since Friday, when it was announced that she would be brought in for questioning. Almost at the same time, the Belgian authorities, according to the newspaper Le Soir, published that Francesco Giorgi, former parliamentary assistant of former MEP Pantzeri, associate of the S&D group and partner in life of Eva Kaili, was arrested.
However, a veil of mystery covers the case regarding the part of the Greek MEP. Information is conflicting. From PASOK, her political party in Greece, they report information that they are waiting for information from the Brussels prosecutor’s office. Similar is the reaction of the Eurosocialists, who emphasize that they are waiting for the announcements of the judicial authorities.
At the same time, sources from Brussels reported that she has been brought in and is being interrogated in the presence of her lawyer. Reports spoke of the discovery of a large amount of money in the house she maintains with her partner. On the other hand, close associates of the MEP until last night, denied the information about her being questioned, saying that she is at home.
The Belgian Le Soir talks about her being brought in for questioning. The same is reported by two correspondents of the French Le Monde in Brussels, who do not rule out the possibility that she has been charged. “Several people have been detained for questioning and may face charges. Among them, Eva Kaili”, they point out.
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On the contrary, the Belgian L’Echo talks about an arrest of the MEP. In the same newspaper it is stated that suitcases with money were found in her house, while her father is also being questioned, since while he was driving, he was found in possession of a suitcase with cash. Similar information was already broadcast on Friday evening by the French Agency, which claimed that he had been arrested.
Given the developments, there was an immediate reaction yesterday from PASOK – Movement for Change, which with a laconic announcement put Eva Kaili out of the party after 18 years of active political career. In their relevant announcement stated that “after the latest developments and the investigation by the Belgian authorities into corruption of European officials, MEP Eva Kaili is removed from PASOK – Movement for Change by decision of its President Nikos Androulakis”. Late on Friday night it became known that she was also written off from the group of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), with the decision having immediate effect.
