The European Parliament on Thursday lifted the immunity of two lawmakers caught up in the Qatargate corruption scandal, Andrea Cozzolino and Marc Tarabella, raising the possibility of further arrests.
The lawmakers made the decision in two votes Thursday morning.
The move is the latest twist in the evolving scandal involving allegations that countries including Qatar and Morocco may have illegally influenced the Parliament’s work.
Cozzolino, who was the chair of the Parliament’s delegation with Maghreb countries, including Morocco, is accused of accepting money to block resolutions damaging the interests of non-EU countries. Tarabella is suspected of taking up to €140,000 in bribes to adopt certain positions at the European Parliament.
The two MEPs, who were already excluded from their Socialists & Democrats group, have strongly denied any wrongdoing.
