EU Parliament Qatar Bribery Scandal Spreads... Former TV Anchor Vice President Finally Dismissed

Dismissed Abruptly Two Days After Indictment... Clear Evidence of Bribery
Family Members Mobilized to Transfer Funds, Leading to Multiple Arrests

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The European Union (EU) Parliament has abruptly dismissed Vice President Eva Kaili just two days after she was indicted on charges of accepting bribes from Qatar, the host country of the 2022 World Cup. Although the EU Parliament initially maintained a cautious stance, it is interpreted that the dismissal was decided unusually quickly as clear evidence of bribery emerged.

Vice President Kaili, who was dismissed, is known as a former famous Greek TV anchor and was also recognized as the youngest female member of parliament. It is reported that Kaili will also be expelled from Greek politics, which is expected to deal a significant blow to the trust in the EU both inside and outside Europe.

Her father was arrested while transferring funds... Over half voted for dismissal

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

According to AFP on the 13th (local time), the EU Parliament announced that more than two-thirds of the members participated in the vote on the dismissal of Vice President Kaili, with 625 out of 705 members voting in favor, passing the motion. Only one opposed and two abstained. The dismissal motion was swiftly passed just two days after Kaili was indicted by Belgian prosecutors on bribery charges.

Earlier, Vice President Kaili was investigated for being involved in a case where Qatar allegedly bribed EU politicians to improve its national image ahead of the World Cup opening. In fact, just before the World Cup opening, Kaili met with Albin Samik Al-Mari, Qatar’s Minister of Labor. Subsequently, she continued to actively defend Qatar amid various controversies such as migrant labor rights violations related to the World Cup, sparking controversy both within and outside Europe.

Belgian prosecutors found funds believed to be bribe money at 16 locations including Kaili’s residence and affiliated offices, and her husband and close associates were also arrested as accomplices. Kaili’s father was reportedly arrested at a train station while attempting to flee with some of the funds. With such clear evidence of bribery, the dismissal process proceeded rapidly.

The Socialists and Democrats group in the European Parliament, to which Kaili belongs, immediately suspended her party membership, and the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), her Greek political party, announced via Twitter that she was expelled immediately.

Initially, the EU had taken a cautious stance, with senior officials waiting for the investigation results, but as the case escalated, it is understood that they concluded with a swift dismissal resolution. This is analyzed as a response to growing concerns that the EU’s reputation and trust, which have emphasized transparency, could be severely damaged. The EU Parliament plans to hold follow-up discussions on measures related to this matter on the 15th.

Greek Beauty Anchor, Youngest Member of Parliament

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Vice President Kaili, who was renowned as a former Greek TV anchor and the youngest member of parliament, has suffered a critical blow to her political career.

Born in 1978, Kaili gained fame as a beautiful news anchor for the Greek media outlet Mega Channel before entering politics. At the age of 26, in 2004, she ran as the youngest candidate in the Greek general election, and in the 2007 general election, she won the Thessaloniki 1st district seat, becoming Greece’s youngest member of parliament and entering politics.

She became a member of the EU Parliament in 2014 and served as chair of the Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA) within the EU Parliament. In January of this year, she was selected as one of the 14 vice presidents of the EU Parliament, rising to prominence both within and outside Europe.