The European Parliament dismisses the vice chairman Eva Kaili, accused of corruption within the ‘Catargate’


The plenary session of the European Parliament has overwhelmingly authorized the dismissal as vice chairman of the Greek socialist Eva Kaili was arrested in Belgium for her alleged involvement in a bribery scheme orchestrated by Qatar The keys to the scandal that shakes the European Parliament

The plenary session of the European Parliament has authorized the dismissal as vice chairman of the Chamber of the Greek socialist Eva Kaili, arrested in Belgium for her alleged involvement in a corruption scheme that includes the cost of bribes by Qatar to achieve affect within the decision-making course of. political and financial choices within the European establishment.

The measure has been supported by a overwhelming majority of MEPs within the plenary session of Strasbourg (France), the place the choice to strip Kaili of the publish of vice-president has been authorized with 625 votes in favor of the 628 expressed, with just one vote in opposition to and two abstentions.

Once dismissed, additionally it is as much as the plenary to determine who will take over in a second vote whose date is but to be decided, though it’s assumed that he will even be a MEP from the Social Democratic household to respect the steadiness negotiated when the 14 vice-presidencies have been appointed. .

Two-Stage Process

According to the principles of the European Parliament, the dismissal of any of its fourteen vice-presidents should be carried out following a two-phase course of and which incorporates article 21 of the establishment’s working rules.

The first step was accomplished early this Tuesday by the group leaders of all of the teams with illustration within the Eurochamber by agreeing “unanimously” in a rare assembly of the Conference of Presidents to request the Chamber to take away the socialist vice chairman Greek. The dismissal later required the bulk help of two thirds of the votes expressed within the plenary session.

The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, already determined over the weekend to right away droop all of the powers, duties and features of illustration as president, however she couldn’t proceed along with her dismissal as a result of it is a energy that belongs completely to the plenary of the Eurochamber.

Kaili will stay an MEP

However, this choice doesn’t stop Kaili from persevering with to occupy her seat as an MEP regardless of being detained, pending her look in court docket this Wednesday. The parliamentary immunity that protects MEPs, nevertheless, didn’t stop her arrest over the weekend as a result of such safety is suspended if the authorities act earlier than a “flagrant crime”.

Since final Friday, the Belgian Police have carried out some twenty searches, primarily in workplaces of the European Parliament headquarters in Brussels but additionally within the properties of a number of MEPs. At Kaili’s dwelling, the authorities seized some 600,000 euros in money, discovered “a number of hundred thousand euros” within the suitcase of the daddy of the Greek socialist in a lodge within the European capital and one other 150,000 euros within the lodging of a 3rd individual.

After confirming that Kaili was a type of investigated inside the framework of the operation in opposition to corruption, cash laundering and a legal group opened by the Belgian authorities, her get together in Greece, PASOK, introduced her expulsion, for which motive as of this Monday occupies a seat as a “Not Registered” MEP.