Bastion of democracy or nest of corruption?
These are two members of the European Parliament who have most shaped the way the European Parliament is perceived in Europe and far beyond – but for very different reasons.
First, there is Roberta Metsola, a center-right lawmaker from Malta who rose to fame in the EU as the youngest speaker of Parliament and the third woman to hold the position – a role she took on in January 2022. Metsola brought new dynamism to Parliament. , promising modernization, launching reforms to anti-harassment rules and becoming the first EU leader to visit war-torn Ukraine.
But after less than a year, his tenure was overshadowed by Qatargate, the biggest corruption case to hit the EU in decades, which involved cash-for-influence schemes and bribery. at the heart of European democracy. This was a reputational blow, similar to that of a meteor crashing into the iconic Paul-Henri Spaak building housing the hemicycle.
Enter Eva Kaili.
The glamorous Greek socialist lawmaker, a socialite known for her high-profile work on technology policy issues, has been accused of corruption, money laundering and participation in a criminal organization that allegedly accepted bribes from countries such as Qatar, Morocco and Mauritania in exchange for parliamentary favors. . Kaili, who denies any wrongdoing, has spent more than three months in prison and is awaiting trial.
President Metsola has devoted much of her political energy over the past two years to cleaning up the Kaili mess – introducing new rules governing the ethics of MEPs and expanding the commission of inquiry into foreign interference, while facing questions about her own presidential donations.
The two members have changed the face of the European Parliament – an institution that has often taken a back seat as power politics takes precedence over European affairs. With Metsola, Parliament sought to change the narrative. With Kaili, he has received a dose of adrenaline and the public’s eyes are fixed on his inner workings.
Their future couldn’t be more different.
Metsola is preparing for her re-election campaign and is seeking a second two-and-a-half-year term as president of a right-wing Parliament, after which national elections in Malta – due by 2027 – await her.
Kaili continues her fight against the Qatargate accusations, claiming that she is the victim of political persecution by the Belgian justice system. His bid to have the Qatargate investigation dropped is expected to take place in court next May. Kaili said she would no longer run as an MEP.
When asked for a response, Kaili said the court ordered him not to speak publicly about his case.
Honorable mention: The late Parliament President David Sassoli helped lead the European Parliament through historic budget negotiations and through the early years of the coronavirus pandemic, before passing away in January 2022, aged 65.
Not so honorable mention: Pier Antonio Panzeri, a member of the European Parliament for 15 years before his current term, was at the heart of the Qatargate scandal and admitted his wrongdoing in exchange for a reduced sentence.
Chances of being re-elected: Kaili doesn’t run. The Maltese electoral system does not currently allow Metsola’s chances of re-election to be known.
— Eddy Cire
Politices
