“Four “Italians” in the crosshairs but no one is under investigation

The origin of the investigation is the secret Service. The role of Morocco. In the papers of the judges the MEPs in the “network” of the Italian Job

Belgium, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) Corruption from Qatar becomes a Spy-Story. And 60 MEPs end up involved in the story of the bribes. They risk investigations and searches. They belong to the political families of the Socialists and Democrats, the People’s Party, and other leftist groupings. But the origin of the investigation could lead to further developments. Because yesterday it emerged that the investigation stems from a work by Belgian intelligence. Together with the secret services of five other European countries. Which initially highlights the role of Morocco. The country wants to deal with the European Union on Western Sahara and migratory flows. For this Mansour Yassine, director of Dged (the secret service of Rabat) meets the characters involved in the investigation. But also other MEPs. With the aim of influencing the strategy of Brussels and Strasbourg.

Morocco and Qatar

Also for Qatar, the interest does not end with the 2022 World Cup. Yesterday it emerged that Doha would have unduly influenced the negotiations for the air transport agreement signed in October 2021 with the European Union. Which guaranteed reciprocity in access to the respective markets. With a serious imbalance of benefits for the Arab country, according to the air transport unions. And which will probably no longer be ratified now. Meanwhile, today the European Parliament will vote on a resolution that will freeze all legislative files linked to Qatar. Doha lobbyists to see access badge a retired Brussels and Strasbourg. For this reason, Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne said he expected payments in bribes and gifts to influence European political decisions by economic powers to be higher than the sums tracked so far. And that the “interests” for other foreign interference may be “countless”. A suspect still to be defined, waiting for the four suspects to be before the Belgian justice again in a month’s time.

The secret services

The story, therefore, does not arise from a collaborator of a parliamentarian but directly from an intelligence investigation. The apparatuses shared information about an alleged threat to state security. Formed by “interference in decision-making processes” by other countries. Then the Sûreté de l’Etat, i.e. the Belgian civilian secret service, reported the information to the federal prosecutor’s office. Also handing over to the prosecutor Michel Calise a report deriving from illegal access to the house of Antonio Panzeri. During this, the suitcases of money were found and then seized by police. The investigation had been going on for a year. In Panzeri’s house in Cusco sull’Adda, however, the Guardia di Finanza seized valuable watches, computers, and mobile phones. And 17,000 euros in cash hidden in a closet. His wife Maria Dolores Colleoni and daughter Silvia, writes La Stampa, are under house arrest.

The money seized from Francesco Giorgi

Instead, in the house of Francesco Giorgi‘s parents in Abbiategrasso, the financiers found the key to a safety deposit box. In the bank, they found another 20,000 euros in cash. It will be difficult to trace its origin. Instead, for those seized in Brussels, the police found a trace: the band that wrapped them allows you to trace the current accounts from which they were taken. And this could be the turning point of the investigation. While Eva Kaili continues to claim she is innocent. The former vice president of the European Parliament says he knows nothing about money and corruption deals. Placing the blame on her partner. Which, writes today Republic, would have confirmed to the investigators that he had left the woman in the dark about the operation. “I will do everything possible to ensure that my partner is free and can take care of our 22-month-old daughter,” he allegedly told the investigators.

The four MEPs in the sights

But there’s more. The newspaper recounts that the Belgian magistrates are investigating a system that revolves around Panzeri but which also reaches the elected officials. And he mentions three MEPs from the Democratic Party: Andrea Cozzolino, Brando Benifei, and Alessandra Moretti. In addition to the Italian-Belgian Maria Arena, a member of the Belgian Socialist Party. None of the four are under investigation. But, the article explains, according to the investigators Cozzolino was the first direct connection, given that Giorgi worked for him. Cozzolino was the chairman of the delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries and of the joint EU-Morocco parliamentary commissions. In addition to being a member of the Human Rights Commission, which has passed the most problematic resolutions for Qatar. The MEP has explained in recent days that he has taken political positions on the issue without any pressure. Giorgi calls him into question together with Tarabella without providing certainties.

Alessandra Moretti and Brando Benifei

Giorgi himself instead “ exonerated ” Alessandra Moretti and Maria Arena: «I’ve never heard of them. They are people I respect. And I believe that their integrity has nothing to do with this context». The secretariat of Moretti’s assistant is seized. However, no questions were asked of Giorgi about Benifei. The idea of ​​the investigators, however, is that corruption is passed in two different ways. In case, the money has already been found. And on the accounts of the NGOs involved, namely “Fight Impunity” by Panzeri and “No Peace without justice” by Niccolò Figà-Talamanca. Which, as Giorgi told the magistrates, were mainly used ” to get the money around “.