MEP Marc Tarabella was brought in for a hearing by investigators this Friday around 6 a.m. A search took place at the town hall of Anthisnes, the town of which he is mayor. The safe that he rents in a bank in Liège was opened by the police.
By Louis Colart, Joël Matriche and Belga
VSn Friday around 6 a.m., investigators from the federal judicial police came to the home of Marc Tarabella, former PS mayor of Anthisnes (Condroz from Liège) and MEP and brought him to Brussels to interview him. If necessary, the socialist could then be heard by the examining magistrate Michel Claise, under the status salduz 4, that is to say as a suspect and if he wishes, with the assistance of a attorney.
A search took place at the town hall of Anthisnes, the town of which he is mayor. The safe that he rents in a bank in Liège was opened by the police.
Pointed out by Antonio Panzeri, the former Italian Social Democratic (S&D) deputy suspected of having worked to promote Moroccan, Qatari and Mauritanian interests within the European Parliament, Marc Tarabella would have received, according to statements by Mr. Panzeri , a hundred thousand euros in order to publicly soften his positions on Qatar and on the organization by the emirate of the 2022 World Cup. On December 11, his home was raided by investigators. They had found nothing suspicious but had taken computer equipment.
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On February 2, the European Parliament had lifted Mr. Tarabella’s parliamentary immunity, thus allowing the courts to proceed with his hearing, or even, if necessary, to place him in police custody.
Mr. Tarabella has always denied having done anything illegal and having been influenced by anyone in his statements.
