05/09/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 5 September, the S&D Group at the European Parliament said it wanted a formal European Parliament investigation to be launched into the Laundromat (money-laundering) affair in which leaked data reveal thousands of covert payments, including to European politicians and journalists, by Azerbaijan’s ruling elite. "Europeans rightfully expect banks and politicians involved in the Azerbaijani Laundromat scandal to be held accountable. The Socialists and Democrats are calling for a formal European Parliament investigation into the affair. We will push for quick, preliminary hearings with the banks and politicians involved to be held in the Panama committee (...) Based on those findings we can then properly decide on the best format for further investigations", Jeppe Kofod MEP (Denmark), the co-chair of the Panama Papers committee, stated. The mandate of the Panama Papers committee comes to an end on 8 December 2017. (CG)