The Italian daily Repubblica had already hinted at this weekend. The information is confirmed. This Monday afternoon, Le Soir and Knack announced that Belgian justice had asked the European Parliament to lift the parliamentary immunity of two MEPs in the context of the Qatargate affair, these suspicions of corruption by Qatar in within the European Parliament. According to Le Soir and Knack, it was the Belgian Marc Tarabella (PS) and the Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino.
The MEP’s request for waiver of immunity was sent to the office of the President of the European Parliament.
Without however mentioning the names of Marc Tarabella and Andrea Cozzolino, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, confirms that she has launched an emergency procedure for the lifting of the immunity of two members of the European Parliament, following a request from the Belgian authorities.
The authorities of Parliament will then have to rule on this request. Which should still take a few days. “The first steps have been taken and the President will communicate the request as soon as possible, during the next plenary session on 16 January.”, communicates the European Parliament. “This will then be forwarded to the Legal Affairs Committee for a proposed decision.“, continues the press release.
Contacted by RTBF, Marc Tarabella’s lawyer reacted. “Since the start of this case, Marc Tarabella has repeated that he is at the disposal of justice and has even asked to be heard quickly in order to be able to defend himself.“. “He also said he would not hide behind his parliamentary immunity, having nothing to reproach himself for. He therefore supports his waiver of immunity if it is requested“, explained the lawyer.
Contacted, the PS, on whose lists Marc Tarabella was elected MEP, reacted. This reaction is in line with the decision taken by the Socialist Party on December 13, when the Vigilance Committee heard Marc Tarabella and suspended the MEP. “The PS has suspended Marc Tarabella from his membership of the PS until the end of the investigation. For the time being, it is therefore no longer PS“, specifies, this January 2, the Socialist Party. “If it turns out that reprehensible acts have been committed, the exclusion will be immediate and automatic“, continues the PS.