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Belgian Police Arrest Another MEP In Corruption Probe

EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT

The Belgian police have arrested another member of the European Parliament today as part of a probe into corruption that has come to be known as 'Qatargate'. Marc Tarabella, a Belgian MEP from the French-speaking centre-left Socialist Party and until last week part of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the EP, was taken into custody on 10 Feb.

  • Tarabella and another S&D MEP, Andrea Cozzolino from the Italian Democratic Party, were stripped of their parliamentary immunity last week.
  • Tarabella's arrest follows those of Vice President Eva Kaili, her partner Francesco Giorgi and former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, all of whom remain in custody.
  • The ongoing investigation alleges that cash payments were made to MEPs and officials in exchange for favourable access to the gov'ts of Qatar and Morocco.
  • The scandal has significantly damaged the credibility of the EP in presenting itself as a rule-of-law and human rights champion, drawing criticism from both internal dissenters such as Hungary, as well as Russia.

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