CNN
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Eva Kaili, one of the Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament, has been expelled from her political party in Greece amid a corruption probe.
The Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK), one of Greece’s main opposition parties, said in a statement on Friday: “Following the latest developments and the Belgian authorities’ investigations into the corruption of European officials, MEP Eva Kaili is being expelled from the PASOK movement of change decision by President Nikos Androulakis.”
Kaili’s group in the European Parliament, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, also announced on Friday that it would be suspending Kaili from the group with immediate effect “in response to the ongoing investigation”.
This comes as Belgium’s federal prosecutor confirmed on Friday to Belgian public broadcaster RTBF that one of the 14 vice-presidents of the parliament had been interrogated as part of a corruption investigation between the European Parliament and a country in the Persian Gulf.
In a statement, the prosecutor said that for two years, Belgian federal police inspectors “suspected a Persian Gulf country of influencing economic and political decisions of the European Parliament,” according to RTBF.
Belgian police suspect the country sent “follow-up money” or “important gifts” to key players within the European Parliament, according to RTBF.
Federal prosecutors did not name the vice president but said they were one of four people who would be produced for questioning.
“Among those arrested is an elderly MEP,” said the prosecutor.
Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates surround the Persian Gulf.
According to RTBF, searches conducted as part of the investigation resulted in the seizure of around €600,000 ($632,000) in cash. Computer materials and telephones were also confiscated as part of the 16 searches in the Belgian areas of Ixelles, Schaerbeek, Crainhem, Forest and Brussels.
