Qatargate: Request for lifting parliamentary immunity of Dimitris Avramopoulos
Belgian justice has submitted to the Greek Chamber of Deputies a request for the lifting of parliamentary immunity of former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, as part of the investigation into the Qatargate scandal.
Qatargate: Request for lifting parliamentary immunity of Dimitris Avramopoulos
A request for the lifting of parliamentary immunity of Dimitris Avramopoulos, former European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship (2014-2019), has been submitted to the Greek Chamber of Deputies by State Secretary for Justice Ioannis Bougas. This procedure aims to activate an arrest warrant issued by the judicial authorities in Brussels concerning his alleged participation in a criminal organisation headed by Antonio Panzeri, involved in the Qatargate scandal.
According to information reported by Philenews, Belgian justice has charged Mr Avramopoulos with three offences against Belgian law. The individual in question declared regarding the arrest warrant that this matter "never concerned him", describing any involvement of his name as "arbitrary, unacceptable and suspect", and stating that he would fight it by all legal means. He further specified that he did not intend to rely on his parliamentary immunity.
The Qatargate scandal involves accusations of corruption, unlawful financing of politicians and influence by Qatar and Morocco in the European Parliament.
Source: Philenews