World News: Bribery European Parliament Style

Details: Category: World News - Europe; Published on Monday, 12 December 2022 18:34; Written by Olivier Longhi

The corruption scandal shaking the European Parliament, the EU's law makers elected to five-year terms, not only tarnishes the reputation of an institution based on ethical and humanistic principles but also casts shame on a political sphere.

Already often criticized, we know that the institution is incorruptible, as the complexity of its operation, where bodies and control commissions follow one another, seemed to hinder any attempt at corruption. And yet, here is the European Parliament tainted by a bribery affair from which it would have gladly passed and which, moreover, highlights the relations between the Parliament and a country at the heart of the news, namely Qatar.

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Beyond the people involved, including one of the vice-presidents, Eva Kaili, this affair throws trouble on an institution often criticized and, by effect, domino on the Union. European. Accused of many evils by its detractors, the Union is losing through this affair a part of credibility that it has sought to protect since its creation.

It was therefore a dirty blow for political Europe, which had managed to give the impression of a new solidarity in the face of Russian expansionism through the war in Ukraine. But here, no Russia on the horizon, but Qatar, a country also criticized since the beginning of the football World Cup, especially because of the treatment of personnel who participated the construction of stadiums.

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The Damage is Done

For many, this corruption case would be just another case if it did not concern the European Union. The latter, founded from the outset on respect for human rights and human rights in general, is being sullied by a case involving a country where the rights of the humans in its broadest sense is most questionable and contested to say the least.

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This is how the credibility of the institution, which already suffered from a more or less degraded image, is being altered because it is now backed by the controversy over working conditions in the emirate. Admittedly, this corruption case concerns only a small number of people quickly ostracized, but as the popular saying goes, "the damage is done."

And the comments founded or unfounded, on the influence of the Qatari power will certainly redouble in the weeks and months to come. Another evidence highlighted by this affair, beyond the tainted credibility, is the greed of certain elected officials, who are supposed to defend humanist ideals and egalitarians put forward by the European Union.

But here again, let us repeat, it is only a tiny minority of individuals unless the investigations carried out by the Belgian police were to bring to light other cases. collusion. And by this affair to see again the image and probity of elected representatives and more broadly of the political sphere revolving around the Parliament and the European Union to be too altered.

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Seduced, even dazzled to the point of losing the sense of their original mission by the economic success of Qatar, some elected officials have succumbed to the sirens of money in exchange for decisions favorable to the Qatari emirate. Thus, in a logic of soft power that some would describe as a little crude in its execution (because the purpose of an influence is to remain invisible), the emirate has infiltrated via selected complicities within an institution that is once again weakened.

Bio: Olivier Longhi has extensive experience in European history. A seasoned journalist with fifteen years of experience, he is currently professor of history and geography in the Toulouse region of France. He has held a variety of publishing positions, including Head of Agency and Chief of Publishing. A journalist, recognized blogger, editor, and editorial project manager, he has trained and managed editorial teams, worked as a journalist for various local radio stations, a press and publishing consultant, and a communications consultant.