Metsola of Malta was unexpectedly at the center of the start of Thursday’s European Union summit in Brussels. Usually, few people pay much attention to the opening speech that the President of the European Parliament always gives to heads of state and government before their summits. But after the police’s crackdown on Parliament last weekend, interest is noticeably greater.
– These criminal investigations hurt us: they harm the European Union, democracy and everything we stand for. A trust that had taken years to build was destroyed in a few moments, and Metsola lamented it in his press conference afterwards.
repair package
It now promises fundamental changes to the work and rules of parliament.
Nothing will ever be swept under the rug. I am putting together an overhaul package that should be ready after the new year.
Among what is to be included are enhanced whistleblower protection, an immediate ban on all informal friendship organizations and a comprehensive review of all parliamentary contacts with various countries.
– I will personally lead this business, Mitsola promises.
new shipment
Meanwhile, Greek MP Eva Kaili remains in police custody following the crackdown this weekend. Kylie has already lost his position as one of the 14 deputy speakers in parliament and is now suspected of irregularities in the payment of parliamentary aides.
Because of the suspicions, the European Union’s chief prosecutor, Laura Covesi, has requested that the parliamentary immunity of Kylie be revoked as well as that of her conservative Greek colleague Maria Speraki – who, however, is not implicated in the bribery scandal – according to Agence France-Presse.
Last week, Belgian police raided a series of addresses in Brussels, mainly linked to an organization working for impunity and its leaders: one who was a former member of the European Parliament and another who works as an aide in parliament. Also among the people interrogated and arrested is the aide’s partner: Greek MEP Eva Kaili.
Kylie, her partner, the former Italian deputy, and one other person have been formally charged with “participation in a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption,” according to a statement from Belgian federal prosecutors.
“Parties in political and/or strategic positions within the European Parliament are suspected of having received large sums of money or made large gifts to influence Parliament’s decisions,” prosecutors said.
Officially, no country has been identified. According to Belgian newspapers, it is mainly about Qatar.
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