Former Vice President of the European Parliament to be released from house arrest

Former Vice President of the European Parliament Eva Kylie, who is under investigation in connection with a corruption scandal, will no longer be monitored by an electronic bracelet and may be released, but with supervision, it was announced this Thursday.

This is reported by Agence France-Presse with reference to Eric Van Duys, the representative of the judicial authority responsible for Cathargate.

Former Greek MEP Eva Kaili was released from prison in mid-April on the condition that she remain under house arrest with an electronic bracelet to track her whereabouts.

With this decision, the former vice-president of the European Parliament is at large, but under judicial supervision, while investigations continue.

In early May, Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella and Italian MP Francesco Giorgi, who are also under investigation in the same process, were released but under supervision.

The case arose in December 2022, when Belgian investigators seized – during searches in Brussels, in the homes of Kylie and Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri – about 1.5 million euros in suitcases and bags.

Judge Kleize suspects cash payments in exchange for political decisions or positions favorable to the interests of Qatar and Morocco in the European Parliament, which Doha and Rabat deny.

Panzeri admitted that the fraud was orchestrated by those under investigation, and his former parliamentary adviser, Francesco Giorgi, is suspected of having played a major role in the process.

Former MEP Panzeri — a figure in the Italian trade union world and an NGO leader since 2019 in Brussels — later blamed Marc Tarabella, who, like Kylie, denies committing any illegal acts or violations.

A seventh suspect, Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino, is under a European arrest warrant issued by Judge Claes but has already contested his obligation to appear before Belgian courts.