European Parliament Shaken by Qatar Corruption Scandal

Kylie, Vice President of the European Parliament, Arrested

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The European Parliament was thrown into turmoil after Eva Kaili, Vice-President of the European Parliament, was arrested on charges of accepting bribes in Qatar, the host country of the World Cup.

On the 11th (local time), the UK’s BBC, citing members of the European Parliament, reported that this case is expected to become the biggest corruption scandal in the European Parliament. The vice-presidential position held by Kaili in the European Parliament is a senior post held by only 14 out of the 705 members of the 9th European Parliament.

Belgian prosecutors announced that four Italian-origin members of parliament have been arrested and are under investigation for money laundering and corruption related to the Qatar corruption probe. Among the four indicted, one is Kaili’s partner and is reported by foreign media to be an aide of the European Parliament’s Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group.

Two days ago, prosecutors arrested and are investigating Eva Kaili, Vice-President of the European Parliament, in Brussels, Belgium. Earlier, prosecutors raided 16 locations in Brussels, seizing cash amounting to 600,000 euros (approximately 826 million KRW).

Upon news of the investigation, the Socialist group immediately suspended Kaili’s party membership. Kaili’s home party, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), also announced via Twitter that he has been expelled.

Earlier, while explaining the investigation, prosecutors did not explicitly name Qatar but referred to a "Gulf country," stating that there are allegations of attempts to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament.

They added, "It is presumed that large sums of money or gifts were given to a third party holding significant political and strategic positions within the European Parliament."

Kaili, a former TV anchor, has served as Vice-President of the European Parliament since 2014 and met with Albin Samik Al Mari, Qatar’s Minister of Labour, just before the World Cup opening last month.

In a video released recently by Qatar’s state-run QNA news agency, she said, "This World Cup will be a good opportunity for political change and reform in the Arab world," and added, "The European Parliament recognizes and respects Qatar’s progress in labor reforms."

She also actively defended Qatar amid various corruption controversies surrounding the recent World Cup, accusing some European Parliament members of harassing Qatar and alleging corruption against them during her speeches in the European Parliament.

A spokesperson for the Qatari government responded to the investigation by saying, "We do not know the details," and refuted the allegations of illegal activities by the Qatari government as "seriously incorrect information."