MEP Marie Arena questioned in Qatargate corruption probe

Belgian MEP Marie Arena was questioned on Friday morning in the European Parliament corruption probe dubbed Qatargate, Le Soir and RTBF report. 

The Belgian federal prosecutor's office has only confirmed that Arena's questioning was scheduled for Friday. They could not confirm whether Arena was questioned as a suspect, as reported by Le Soir and RTBF.

For several months, the prosecutor's office has been conducting a major investigation into attempts by Qatar and Morocco to influence economic and political decision-making in the European Parliament.

Both countries allegedly tried to influence the decisions and resolutions of the European Parliament through former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri and his non-profit organisation Fight Impunity.

Panzeri, his right-hand man Francesco Giorgi, his partner and vice-president of the European Parliament Eva Kaili, Brussels-Italian lobbyist Nicolo Figa-Talamanca, Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella and Italian MEP Andrea Cozzolino have all been named as suspects in the case. 

Arena was also named in the case, but so far had not been charged or questioned. Arena, a member of francophone socialist party PS and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats, has always insisted that she was never influenced or bribed.

^{Belgian MEP Marie Arena © PHOTO LEPICTORIUM}