In a show of hands among MEPs, the European Parliament has unanimously agreed to a request by a top EU financial crime-fighting body to lift the immunity of the former vice president, Eva Kaili, who is also embroiled in a separate corruption scandal known as Qatargate.
Kaili was not present for the vote, but Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella, who is also a suspect in the Qatargate scandal, supported the proposal to lift immunity. Both Kaili and Tarabella have maintained their innocence in the Qatargate investigation.
According to a report from Politico, Kaili stands accused of misusing her official budget by allegedly orchestrating a scheme involving fake jobs and kickbacks with former assistants.
EP Plenary session – General view of the hemicycle in Strasbourg
The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) alleges that Kaili and her associates misappropriated between €120,000 and €150,000 from the EU budget.
Kaili’s lawyer, Spyros Pappas, expressed readiness to take further legal action should the Parliament waive his client’s immunity. Pappas contested the notion that Kaili could face imprisonment based on preliminary and unsubstantiated claims.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) aims to investigate allegations that one of Kaili’s assistants did not genuinely work for her between 2015 and 2019, that four assistants submitted fake expense claims, and that Kaili received kickbacks from an assistant’s salary.
Kaili’s attempt to challenge the investigation in the General Court of the European Union was unsuccessful, with the court ruling against her last month.
This ruling was deemed significant by EPPO head Laura Codruța Kövesi, enabling the investigative team to proceed with its work after Kaili’s immunity was lifted.
Despite facing charges related to a criminal organization, corruption, and money laundering, Kaili, along with other Qatargate suspects, retains her MEP status and full voting rights.
In addition to Kaili, the Parliament also waived the immunity of two other Greek lawmakers.
MEP Georgios Kyrtsos is accused of owing money to the Greek state, while MEP Ioannis Lagos, who is currently incarcerated, faces charges of inciting hatred based on an online statement made in 2022.
