series of searches in an investigation for corruption – Liberation
After Qatargatethe European Parliament is shaken by a new case: Belgian police led this twenty searches in Belgium this Thursday, March 13, March 13 in Belgium An investigation for corruption within the European institution « Under the guise of commercial lobbying ». « Several people » were arrested to be interviewed, according to the federal prosecutor's office, which also reports a search in Portugal. The operation mobilized a hundred police in the three regions of Belgium, Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels.
After The evening and RTBF, the survey targets practices since 2021 of lobbyists Linked to the Chinese telecommunications group Huawei. « Corruption would have been practiced regularly and very discreetly from 2021 to date, under the guise of commercial lobbying and taking different forms, such as remuneration, political positions or even disproportionate gifts such as mouth costs, travel, or regular invitations to football matches »explains the federal prosecution. Solicited, the Huawei group has not yet responded.
It was « Promote purely private commercial interests within the framework of political decisions »he underlined. At the heart of the investigation is an ex-parliamentary assistant employed as director of public affairs at the Huawei Brussels office, according to Belgian media.
The evening Affirms that several lobbyists have been arrested in order to be presented to the investigating judge piloting the investigations, and that a fifteen MEPs are in the investigators' radar. No MEPs are among the people arrested on Thursday morning, said a police source.
The investigation aims at facts of « Active corruption within the European Parliament » as well as « False and use of false »all within the framework of a « Criminal organization »adds the federal prosecution. Payments or other heritage advantages would have been hidden « In financial flows related to conference costs, and paid to various intermediaries »still says the prosecution, which says that they also try to detect any facts of money laundering. « Several documents and objects have been entered and must be the subject of in -depth analyzes ».
It is the second time in less than three years that the European Parliament, the only elected institution of the EU, has been splashed by a corruption scandal. In Qatargate, the Belgian justice has been investigating since 2022 on facts involving several MEPs or ex-socialist European-deputies suspected of having been corrupted by two foreign powers, Qatar and Morocco. The two countries, which are suspected of having made gifts or payments in cash to smooth their image in terms of human rights, have always denied firmly.
Solicited, the European Parliament said Thursday morning « Take note » of the new survey, and promised to « Cooperate fully »according to a spokesperson.
