The Members of the European Parliament adopted by a show of hands on Thursday 2 February the two requests to waive the immunity of MEPs Marc Tarabella (S&D, Belgian) and Andrea Cozzolino (NI, Italian). The two MEPs are being investigated by the Belgian authorities in connection to the ‘Qatargate’ scandal (see EUROPE 13091/10). Marc Tarabella, who came to vote on his immunity being waived, said that he had “done absolutely nothing wrong” and that this waiver would allow him to “answer the investigators’ questions and help the justice system to shed light on this case”.
In the same voting session, MEPs also approved the waiver of the immunity of Helmut Geuking (EPP, German) and Nicolas Bay (NI, French), both of whom are subject to legal proceedings in their respective countries.
However, they decided not to waive the immunity of Nadine Morano (EPP, French), who is under investigation by the French authorities regarding a defamation case. (Original version in French by Léa Marchal)