Eva Kaili: From the European Parliament to prison – Her political career, the scandal and the fall

The developments surrounding Qatargate and Eva Kaili’s involvement in the corruption ring that includes current and former MEPs are stormy.

After yesterday’s announcements by the Belgian authorities, Eva Kaili along with three other people were sent to prison with serious charges related to “participation in a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption”.

According to information, a huge sum of money was found in her house, while her father, who was however released, was caught with a suitcase full of cash while leaving a Brussels hotel.

Prison de Saint-Gilles

The final decision on pre-trial detention

In the next few days, probably by Wednesday, it will be decided whether Eva Kaili and the three other people who have been remanded in custody will remain in prison.

As stipulated by the procedure, Eva Kaili, like the others, will remain in prison for 48 hours and then appear again before the authorities, who will decide whether to remain in custody until the start of the trial of the case or whether to be released.

From the seats of the European Parliament to prison

As it became known, Eva Kaili has been transferred to the prisons of Saint-Gilles and things seem to be quite difficult as the Belgian authorities are particularly tough on corruption cases.

Her first reaction regarding the origin of the money is expected with particular interest as there are complaints from Belgian media that highlighted the corruption scandal, that current and former MEPs were bribed by Qatari officials.

Political career and fall

Eva Kaili has been a member of the European Parliament since 2014, while since 2022 she has also been vice-president of the European Parliament.

In Greece, she was elected as a Member of Parliament in 2007, while in 2015 he was appointed as the representative of the Panhellenic Socialist Movement-PASOK, and among other things, she was the president of the Research Center for Equality issues at the Ministry of the Interior.

The Qatargate scandal still has many twists and turns as the Belgian media anticipates new revelations involving both those arrested and others yet to come to light.

The first “strange” indications for Eva Kaili came when she gave a speech in which she praised Qatar for labor rights without even making any mention of the 6,000 migrant workers who died in Qatar.

“Today, the World Cup in Qatar is a proof of how sports diplomacy can achieve the historic transformation of a country, with reforms that have inspired the Arab world,” Eva Kaili had said, adding that “Qatar is a pioneer in labor rights”.

In the previous days, other revelations came to light that showed Eva Kaili’s special relations with Qatar.

According to the British journalist Jack Parrock, Eva Kaili on December 1 voted in favor of visa liberalization for Qatar and Kuwait, in the LIBE committee of the European Parliament.

From what it seems, Mrs. Kaili replaced another MEP from the group of European Socialists to which she belonged until she was expelled, so that she could attend and vote in Qatar’s favor. According to the same source, so did Mark Tarabeya, also MEP of the European Socialists.

In the wake of the rapid developments in Strasbourg, the plenary session of the European Parliament is convening today, with the MEPs angry and demanding swift action.

Eva Caili is in prison together with her partner Francesco Giorgi

In prison with her husband

Eva Caili is in prison together with her partner Francesco Giorgi who was an associate of the also arrested former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri.

The pair, along with two other people, the ring’s alleged “mastermind” and former MEP, Pierre Antonio Panzeri, and a Brussels lobbyist, are accused of being part of a criminal organization, money laundering and corruption.

The first reactions from Kaili’s family

At a time when the developments surrounding the Qatargate corruption scandal are stormy, today, the first reaction came from Eva Kaili’s family environment.

“There is no press release until now, we are waiting for the development of the court until Wednesday for Eva. We are waiting for her father to return to Greece. We don’t know when… He almost suffered a health problem from his distress. We hope everything goes well. The case is handled by a lawyer from Belgium, we are trying to come in contact with  him to find out more information.