Hungarian premier shares meme mocking European Parliament’s corruption probe

By Busra Nur Cakmak

ANKARA (AA) – Hungary’s prime minister posted a meme on Twitter Monday mocking a recent internal corruption investigation by the European Parliament.

Viktor Orban shared a meme with the words “And then they said the EP is seriously concerned about corruption in Hungary” imposed on a photo of former US President Ronald Reagan laughing with other officials around him.

Above the photo, he said: "Good morning to the European Parliament! @Europarl_EN.”

-Corruption investigation

The European Parliament will launch an internal investigation over corruption charges, with its president, Roberta Metsola, saying "there will be no sweeping under the carpet."

Eva Kaili, one of the 14 vice presidents of the European legislative body, who is from Greece's center-left PASOK-KINAL party, was arrested Friday by Belgian police after her house was searched over corruption charges allegedly linked to Qatar.

Her father was also detained after he was found in possession of a large amount of cash in a suitcase, according to local reports.

"This a test of our values, systems and colleagues, and we will meet this test head on. There will be no impunity," Metsola said, addressing the parliament. "I'm in politics like so many of you here to fight corruption, to stand up for the principles of Europe."

“We will launch a reform process to see who has access to our premises, how these organizations, NGOs and people are funded, (and) what links with third countries they have. We will ask for more transparency on meetings with foreign actors and those linked to them.”

- Qatar rejects allegations

Qatar has rejected any connection to accusations of misconduct that have shaken the European Parliament.

"Qatar categorically rejects any attempts to associate it with accusations of misconduct. Any association of the Qatari government with the reported claims is baseless and gravely misinformed," Doha’s mission to the EU said in a statement Sunday.

It added that the Gulf state "works through institution-to-institution engagement and operates in full compliance with international laws and regulations."