MEP Marie Arena of Belgium’s French-speaking socialist party has long been rumoured to being actively involved in ‘Qatargate’. Today she is being questioned by federal investigators
Marie Arena, an MEP for the French-speaking socialists (PS), is being questioned by federal investigators today in connection with the European Parliament’s ongoing ‘Qatargate’ corruption scandal. Her name has come up many times previously in the investigation into bribes from Quatar and Morocco but she had not yet been interrogated.
The federal prosecutor’s office has been conducting a major investigation for more than a year into attempts by Qatar and Morocco to influence EU decision-making. Both countries have tried to influence opinions and resolutions through former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and his NGO Fight Impunity.
Innocent associate or kingpin?
Panzeri and several others – including Greek MEP Eva Kaili and Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella – have been charged with corruption and money laundering. Arena’s home was searched last July, when she commented that she was “confident that the investigation will confirm” that she “is not involved in the case.”
Arena was wire-tapped by police way back in the summer of 2022 in conversation with Panzeri, but investigators have never been clear on whether she was one of the key figures in the bribery ring or merely a close associate of Panzeri.
Arena resigned as chair of the human rights committee after Politico reported that she did not declare a trip paid for by Qatar.