The Qatar Gate outbreak has opened the floodgates as authorities look to get to the bottom of a case that is shaking the European Parliament to its core.
As Politico reports in its live blog, the security services of the European Parliament have so far proceeded to "seal" at least ten offices linked to officials in Strasbourg. These are offices belonging to the same people who have been targeted by the authorities in the last 24 hours.
At the same time, the authorities have sealed the office of an assistant to the Italian MEP Pietro Bartolo, who belongs to the Eurogroup of Socialist Democrats. The Italian MEP's assistant's office was marked "sealed office no access."
It should be noted that Italian MEP Pietro Bartolo is no longer the "shadow" section leader for issues concerning the liberalisation of visas for Kuwait and Qatar, but he remains vice-chairman of the LIBE Committee (Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs).
Earlier on Tuesday afternoon, authorities carried out a new raid on the European Parliament's headquarters in Strasbourg. They targeted the office of Mychelle Rieu, an official who works for the European Parliament's subcommittee on human rights. The official's office was "sealed" by federal police officers.
According to European Parliament sources who spoke to Politico, the authorities confiscated a computer in connection with the work of that committee. The role of the committee is to "raise awareness of specific human rights situations," including with external actors. Immediately after the investigation was completed, the office was "unsealed."
And while revelations surrounding Qatar Gate follow one another, Belgian MEP Mark Tarabella was expelled from the Socialist Party of Wallonia, a party spokesperson told Politico. The party's rules committee heard Tarabella on Tuesday morning but found that there was insufficient information for a decision. A group of the party's president and vice presidents, however, went ahead and deleted Tarabella anyway.
Recall that Tarabella yesterday Monday expressed his intention to step out of the Socialist Eurogroup expressed Belgian MEP Mark Tarabella, whose residence was searched by the authorities on Saturday for the Qatari money laundering scandal.
Politico reported that, in a note to the Socialist Group (S&D), Tarabella said: "I have decided to step aside (step aside)." At the same time, he has left the European Parliament's committee on relations with Arab countries.
Furthermore, the MEP stressed that "I stayed in Belgium hoping to be questioned by the police and to help the police as much as I can." He added that "I have absolutely nothing to hide."
He further stated. I accept that.
" I have never received money to say what I believe, I have never received money to say things I don't think about. My beliefs and ideals have never been and will never be for sale. I will fight for that to be recognized."
Source: Proto Thema
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