European Parliament head launches procedure to waive MEPs' immunity amid scandal

By Beyza Binnur Donmez

ISTANBUL (AA) – The head of the European Parliament president has launched an urgent procedure to waive the immunity of two MEPs implicated in a corruption scandal at the request of Belgian judicial authorities, officials said on Monday.

"From the very first moment the European Parliament has done everything in its power to assist in investigations and we will continue to make sure that there will be no impunity," EP President Roberta Metsola said, cited by an EP statement.

"Those responsible will find this parliament on the side of the law. Corruption cannot pay and we will do everything to fight it," Metsola continued.

The first procedural steps have been taken and Metsola will announce the request in plenary on Jan. 16. Then the request will be referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs for a proposal for a decision.

Metsola has asked all services and committees to give this procedure priority with a view to its conclusion by Feb. 13, according to the statement.

The European Parliament was hit by a corruption scandal when Eva Kaili, 44, from Greece's center-left PASOK-KINAL party, and one of the EP’s 14 vice presidents, was arrested on Dec. 9 by Belgian police after her home was searched on corruption charges related to Qatar. She was barred from the parliament’s vice presidency over the allegations following the arrest.