Pier Antonio Panzeri (67) has pledged to confess everything he knows about the European Parliament’s corruption affair in exchange for a limited sentence. ‘Le Soir’, ‘Knack’ and ‘La Repubblica’ have been able to obtain reports of the witness examination of Panzeri on 2 and 13 February and other documents from the investigation file. Panzeri brings incriminating information and mentions amounts that would have been received.
LOOK. Who is Pier Antonio Panzeri (67), key figure in European Parliament corruption?
In his recent interrogations, Panzeri has admitted that he – together with the one who appears to be his right-hand man, Francesco Giorgi – received at least 2.6 million euros from the three countries mentioned: Morocco, Qatar and Mauritania. The vast majority of that money was paid out in cash. Part of that amount was distributed among MEPs and parliamentary assistants between 2018 and 2022, according to the regrettable.
According to him, Qatar was the largest ‘customer’ of the organization, which he said he led. Morocco would have transferred at least 180,000 euros in cash (plus gifts and travel) and Mauritania 200,000 euros to the ‘associates’ Panzeri-Giorgi.
250,000 euros for former PS member Tarabella
Panzeri makes serious accusations against the Belgian Marc Tarabella, whom he had already ‘charged’ during his first interrogation after his arrest. According to ‘Le Soir’, Tarabella should have received a total of 250,000 euros by the end of the legislature, in 2024.
LOOK. Who is Marc Tarabella, ex-EP for PS and mayor of Anthisnes?
But he is also not tender to MEPs Andrea Cozzolino, Eva Kaili and Lara Comi. The name of the latter, a member of the European Parliament of the Italian party Forza Italia, appears for the first time in this file. She was not elected in 2019, but replaced Silvio Berlusconi in November 2022. She denies all allegations.
Confrontation
The confessions should be read with caution. They may be contradicted by new investigative acts and by the interrogations of other defendants. They may even be contradicted by new statements made by Panzeri during subsequent interrogations. The lawyers of Eva Kaili and Marc Tarabella have already demanded a confrontation between their clients and the repentant.
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