Belgium Makes EU Parliament Arrests in Qatar Corruption Probe
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Loading... - Thalia Doukas
- 08 Jan 2025
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Belgian police have arrested a European Parliament vice-president, Eva Kaili, along with four others as part of an investigation into corruption linked to World Cup hosts Qatar. The arrests were confirmed by the Belgian prosecutor's office on December 9, following a series of raids in Brussels.
Kaili, a Greek socialist MEP, was taken into custody just hours after the other four suspects, who are either Italian citizens or originally from Italy, were detained for questioning. Notably, Kaili is in a relationship with one of the detained individuals, a parliamentary assistant affiliated with the European Parliament's Socialists and Democrats group.
In the wake of Kaili's arrest, Nikos Androulakis, the president of the Greek socialist party PASOK, announced her expulsion from the party via Twitter. While the Belgian prosecutors did not initially name the Gulf country involved in the investigation, reports from Belgian media indicated that Qatar was the focus, with former MEP Pier-Antonio Panzeri identified as one of those arrested.
Belgium's federal prosecutor revealed that the investigation had led to raids at 16 locations in Brussels, resulting in the recovery of approximately €600,000 in cash, along with computer equipment and mobile phones, which will be analyzed as part of the ongoing investigation. The prosecutors stated that they suspected a Gulf country of attempting to influence economic and political decisions within the European Parliament by offering substantial sums of money or gifts to influential figures.
Kaili, 44, who previously worked as a television presenter, is one of the 14 vice presidents of the European Parliament. In November, shortly before the World Cup commenced, she met with Qatar's Labour Minister, Ali bin Samikh Al Marri, and publicly praised Qatar's labor reforms, stating that the World Cup had served as a "great tool for political transformation and reforms."
The arrests come amid Qatar's efforts to improve its international image, particularly in light of criticism regarding its labor practices and human rights record. Migrant workers, who constitute a significant portion of Qatar's population, have faced harsh working conditions, especially leading up to the World Cup. Although Qatar has implemented some reforms to its labor system, critics argue that more needs to be done to ensure these changes are effective.
The investigation into alleged bribery and corruption is particularly significant given the backdrop of accusations surrounding the FIFA members' vote that awarded the World Cup to Qatar. The timing of the police raids coincided with the United Nations-designated International Anti-Corruption Day, further underscoring the gravity of the situation.
As the investigation unfolds, it raises important questions about the intersection of sports, politics, and ethics, particularly in the context of global events like the World Cup. The implications of these arrests could have far-reaching effects on both the European Parliament and Qatar's ongoing efforts to reshape its international reputation.
