Bribes and gifts from Qatar to influence decisions European Parliament The most important trade union in the world International Trade Union Confederation (Etoc). This is what emerges from an investigation conducted by the Belgian authorities and cited in an article published by the newspaper le bracelet It is weekly Stabilizesaccording to which of the leaders of what the media defines A “The criminal organization infiltrated the heart of Parliament” There were two prominent Italian personalities, A Brussels: the former deputy of Socialists for Article 1, Antonio Panziriwhich was also found 500 thousand euros in cash within the residence in BrusselsAnd the Luca VisentiniGeneral Secretary Atuk representing more than 200 million workers. It appears that both were arrested in a raid carried out by the Belgian police forces 14 searches.
The investigation launched in July 2022 by the Belgian authorities, and coordinated by the Federal Prosecutor’s Office, is an investigation that could cause an earthquake of unprecedented proportions within the premises of European institutions. A case of corruption that, if more manifold relationships with other political advocates were shown sitting between the Eurochamber’s benches, would undermine the credibility of the institutions themselves. According to what we read, “The Federal Judicial Police carried out 14 searches in different municipalities in Brussels. In particular in Ixelles, Schaerbeek, Crainhem, Forest and Brussels-City. These searches were carried out as part of a wide-ranging investigation into allegations of criminal organization and corruption and money laundering.”
Investigators suspect that a Gulf country is trying to influence the economic and political decisions of the European Parliament by paying large sums of money or offering large gifts to third parties who occupy important political and/or strategic positions within the European Parliament. The newspapers specified that the accusation did not mention Qatar, but various informed sources reported that it was Doha that paid the bribes. Their aim, while the World Cup matches were still in progress, was precisely to defend the legality of the competition from accusations of violating human and workers’ rights, highlighting the emirate’s alleged progress.
Among those arrested, in addition to Panziri and Vicentini, the media reported was also the director of a non-governmental organization and a European parliamentary assistant, also of Italian origin. These are very active figures in human rights associations. Panziri is also the chair of the “Combating Impunity” which promotes “the fight against impunity for gross violations of human rights” and international justice. Among the offices being inspected there will also be the Association’s office.
More information about the structure of the organization can emerge from an analysis of computers and phones seized by investigators during the raids that mainly concerned parliamentary aides linked to the Group of Socialists and Democrats and, in one case, the European People’s Party.
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