A socialist Greek politician named Eva Kaili has been busted for alleged corruption in connection with the enlightened Middle Eastern utopia of Qatar. Ms. Kaili is one of fourteen vice presidents of the European Parliament. She is also easy on the eyes — or at least on my increasingly decrepit eyes — but whether that has any bearing on the trajectory of her political career is as yet unclear.
Many thanks to Hellequin GB for translating this article from FOCUS online. The translator’s comments are in square brackets:
Influence from Qatar?
Vice-President of the European Parliament arrested
According to information from the German Press Agency, the Vice President of the European Parliament, Eva Kaili, was arrested in connection with corruption investigations in Belgium.
The Greek chick had already been expelled from her party, the Panhellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok), on Friday evening. The Socialist Group in the European Parliament suspended Kaili’s membership with immediate effect. [That shows the old adage in politics is true: be as corrupt as you please, but don’t get caught, because then we are going to disown you.] According to the Belgian public prosecutor’s office, there were 16 searches on Friday. Five people were arrested. Kaili is one of 14 Vice-Presidents of Parliament.
Qatar is said to have distributed money and gifts to influential EU politicians
The investigations are about a suspected criminal organization, attempted influence by a Gulf state and allegations of corruption and money laundering, the authority said. For several months, there have been suspicions that a Gulf state is trying to influence the political and economic decisions of the EU Parliament. According to media reports, it is Qatar. Substantial sums of money or gifts in kind are said to have been distributed to persons in Parliament who held a political or strategic position.
A few weeks ago, Kaili gave a passionate speech for Qatar
Kaili, who has now been arrested, gave a speech in the European Parliament on November 21 about the current World Cup in Qatar. In it, the 44-year-old politician described the sporting event as proof “that sports diplomacy can bring about historic change in a country whose reforms have inspired the Arab world.” Qatar is a pioneer when it comes to labor rights, for example. Kaili had previously met with Qatari Labor Minister Samikh Al Marri, Qatari EU Ambassador Christian Tudor wrote on Twitter.
Kaili has been an MEP since 2014 and Vice-President of Parliament since 2022. From 2004 to 2007, according to her CV on the parliament website, she was a newsreader and journalist, and later also a PR consultant in Greece.
Prosecutor’s office: Ex-MP among those questioned — €600,000 in cash confiscated
The Belgian public prosecutor’s office has now announced that a former MEP was among those questioned. During the searches, €600,000 in cash and mobile phones were confiscated.
A spokesman for the European Parliament said on request that there was no comment on ongoing investigations. However, one will fully cooperate with the responsible authorities.
The Social Democratic Group in Parliament made a similar statement. The faction has no tolerance for corruption. At the same time, work in Parliament on all issues affecting the Gulf States and the plenary votes on them would have to be suspended.
Green politicians: “Allegations must be fully clarified”
The co-chair of the parliament’s anti-corruption working group, Daniel Freund, was shocked by the investigation. “The allegations must be fully clarified,” said the Green politician. Money should not play a role in the decisions in Europe’s largest parliament. There is a huge loss of trust. [There are still people that TRUST that crime syndicate?]
Afterword from the translator:
Not that I’m surprised by this. As we know, this is the best government money can buy. But that actually a public prosecutor pounced on them — Imagine my shock.
Eva Kaili didn’t kill herself.
How about that diversity is our strength global egalitarian utopia coalition.
Reality comes back with a vengeance in 2023 and Nimrodism is nothing new under the Sun.
IRONY ON
Yes, it will be a tragedy.
Such a promising career ended by a suicide.
We will miss her.
IRONY OFF
In with Kaili is her Italian husband * and another Italian having an NOG, I think his name is Panzeri with his wife and daughter (Lawyer in Milan).
*In Greece for Italians and Greeks we say “una faccia una razza.”
She will be promptly released from jail and will find a new high position in another obscure and powerful uber-national organization. With her newly acquired skills of how can one get caught if not careful, she’ll remain more low key but corrupt and greedy, nevertheless. Once a “politician” acquires the taste for ill-gained money, she never loses it again.
Well unless that politician is at the end of a rope?