Belgian Police Conduct Wide-Ranging Raids in EU Parliament Corruption Probe

Investigators target alleged bribery tied to Huawei lobbyists, implicating eurodeputies and uncovering potential financial crimes.

Belgian authorities executed 20 raids across Brussels, Flanders, and Wallonia, along with one in Portugal, as part of a corruption investigation involving the European Parliament.
The investigation focuses on lobbying activities by individuals linked to the Chinese telecom giant Huawei, with allegations of bribery and undue influence since 2021.
Suspicions include the use of financial incentives, lavish gifts, and paid trips to sway political decisions for private commercial interests.
Several individuals, including lobbyists, were detained for questioning, though no current eurodeputies were among those arrested.
The probe includes charges of corruption, forgery, money laundering, and links to organized crime, echoing the earlier 'Qatargate' scandal.