Qatargate, Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella arrested: his parliamentary immunity had been stripped
MEP Marc Tarabella was arrested as part of the Qatargate inquiry. Tarabella told the Belgian newspaper Le Soir that he had been taken this morning from his home in Wallonia and taken to Brussels where he was interrogated by judge Michel Claise. The news of the arrest was confirmed by the federal prosecutor’s office. On February 2, Tarabella’s parliamentary immunity was revoked.
According to the statements entered in the minutes by Pier Antonio Panzeri, the Italian-Belgian politician would have received between 120 and 140 thousand euros to soften his positions regarding Qatar. Tarabella has denied any wrongdoing. In addition to the waiver of immunity, Tarabella had already been expelled from the S&D group in the European Parliament. He has been asking to be heard by the judge since last December.
As part of the Qatargate investigation, the Belgian federal prosecutor’s office conducted several “searches” in Belgium. In particular, a safety deposit box of a bank located in Liège, belonging to Tarabella, was checked. Some offices of the town hall of Anthisnes, a town in which he also holds the position of mayor, were also searched. The investigating judge will decide whether the MEP should appear at the hearing for a possible confirmation of the arrest.
