Qatargate: EP waives immunity of MEPs Tarabella, Cozzolino

(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, FEBRUARY 2 - A plenary session of the European Parliament waived the immunity of MEPs Marc Tarabella and Andrea Cozzolino who are accused by investigators of being involved in the so-called Qatargate bribery scandal. Belgian MEP Tarabella was present in Parliament.
    The vote to lift the immunity of both lawmakers was held by show of hands. Tarabella, as recently announced, voted in favour of waiving the guarantees that prevent the judiciary of a member state from detaining a member of the European Parliament.
    The ball is now in the Belgian judiciary's court: the two MEPs, without immunity, could be detained, if requested by prosecutor Michel Claise. Documents examined by the European Parliament's justice committee allegedly show that the lawmakers are in a different situation, well-informed sources said. Former MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and his assistant Francesco Giorgi told investigators that Tarabella received money, while such allegations were not made against Italian MEP Cozzolino.
    (ANSAmed).