Corruption allegations: Parliament has to seize the moment, MEPs say
EuroparlJan 16, 2023
Another Member of the European Parliament (MEP), Marc Tarabella of Belgium, was arrested on Friday as part of an investigation into alleged parliamentary money laundering, bribery, and corruption. The news follows former EP vice-president Eva Kaili's arrest in December.
Tarabella was arrested early in the morning, and will go before a judge within the next 48 hours, who will decide whether he will remain in detention. MEPs typically enjoy immunity from detention and legal proceedings, but the EP last week voted to strip him of his privileges.
The European Parliament prides itself on being above corruption, which is why the vast majority of MEPs — who are not involved in this case — have called for swift and concrete measures to be implemented in response to these bribery allegations. Radical actions, such as the criminalization of all corruption through the "defense of democracy package," are set to be imposed to quash the behavior of this rogue minority.
The irony of these so-called socialist European MEPs engaging in bribery and fraud is incredible, and the few arrests made so far may only be the tip of the iceberg in the European Parliament. Up to 60 MEPs could potentially be involved — those outside of this chaos should watch this space and note the display of hypocrisy as it unfolds.