The European Parliament lifted, Thursday, February 2, the immunity of Marc Tarabella and Andrea Cozzolino, two MEPs, respectively Belgian and Italian, targeted by Belgian justice in the "Qatargate" affair, the alleged corruption scandal in benefit of Qatar and Morocco. This decision paves the way for their hearing by the investigators.
The two elected officials, temporarily excluded from the social democratic group (S
The latter's home had been searched at the start of the case in mid-December 2022. In Brussels, he is known for having defended Qatar several times in the hemicycle, and for his friendship with Pier Antonio Panzeri, from whom 600,000 euros in cash were seized.
Since the "Qatargate" explosion, four people have been charged with alleged corruption in the European Parliament for the benefit of Qatar: Eva Kaili, the now ex-President of the European Parliament, her companion, parliamentary assistant Francesco Giorgi, the ex-deputy Pier Antonio Panzeri and Niccolo Figa-Talamanca, leader of the NGO No Peace Without Justice.
