Belgian Police Probe Huawei Bribery Scandal Involving MEPs.
Belgian police have launched a fresh corruption probe into the Chinese tech giant Huawei, searching its Brussels headquarters and several homes across Belgium. The investigation is centered around claims that Huawei lobbyists paid bribes to members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to influence EU decision-making, according to investigative reports.
The news was first revealed by the investigative website Follow the Money, alongside two Belgian newspapers, Le Soir and Knack.
Search of 21 Locations Across Belgium and Portugal
In a coordinated effort, Belgian authorities carried out searches at 21 locations in Brussels, Flanders, Wallonia, and even Portugal. These operations aim to uncover evidence of bribery, money laundering, forgery, and links to criminal organizations. Documents and electronic devices were confiscated during the searches.
Key Figure in the Investigation: Valerio Ottati
At the center of the investigation is Valerio Ottati, a 41-year-old lobbyist for Huawei. Ottati, who joined the company six years ago, previously worked with Italian MEPs involved in China-related dossiers within the European Parliament.
Impact on the European Parliament and Possible Waiver of Immunity
If the investigation implicates current MEPs, Belgian authorities will likely request the European Parliament to waive their immunity.
A spokesperson for the Parliament confirmed that the institution would cooperate fully with judicial authorities when required but noted that no searches have been conducted within the Parliament itself. As of now, no requests for immunity waivers have been made.
A New Scandal Strikes the European Parliament
The ongoing investigation comes on the heels of the Qatargate scandal, which tarnished the European Parliament’s reputation in 2022. In that case, several MEPs were found accepting cash and other benefits in exchange for influencing EU decisions related to Qatar.
Since then, the European Parliament has introduced stricter ethics and transparency rules, but this new scandal could further damage the institution’s credibility, particularly among Eurosceptic and far-right politicians who have often used corruption allegations to criticize the EU.