The “Qatargate” investigation in Belgium is expanding and might potentially bring down the EU Commission. As we wrote, the context of the scandal is the original plan to replace Russian gas supplies with Qatar, long before the Ukrainian war and sanctions. The weird idea of organizing the World Cup soccer championship in Qatar was part of the deal, and to sell this to the public, the image of Qatar on human rights had to be polished.
Former EP vice president Eva Kaili, who is currently under arrest, was apparently bribed to do so, together with former MEP Antonio Panzeri. However, it is rumored that the corrupted ring is much broader, and might include members of the EU Commission.
Now investigators are looking at Eva Kaili’s sister Mantalena, who runs an agency that looks like the interface for briberies similar to the role played by Panzeri’s “Fight Impunity” NGO, or as a lobbyist gray zone. Mantalena Kaili’s Elontech is an “observatory on new technology” which might have profited by the fact that sister Eva Kaili served as director of the Committee on the Future of Science and Technology (Stoa), from 2017 to 2022. It was during that period that Eva’s career suddenly accelerated.
She was appointed to the scientific advisory board by professor Salvino Salvaggio, who had worked closely with Elontech. According to ANSA, Salvaggio was executive director of Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the Qatar Fund.
As head of the panel founded to carry out technology assessment projects, Eva Kaili has established a network of contacts with people from interest groups.
Apparently, Elontech has received EU grants for €15 million. Its office is in the same building as that of the real estate company founded by Eva Kaili.
It is not clear whether the cryptocurrency Elontech is run by Mantalena Kaili’s Elontech or whether it is a case of homonymy.
The opposition in the European Parliament is calling for a dissolution of the Parliament and new elections. This would mean that the EU Commission must also go. At this moment, this has no traction. However, if the scandal expands, the socialist-liberal-green majority might be forced to go that way.
Meanwhile, the EP presidency and majority are defending the EP and blaming responsibility for the corruption on Qatar. In response, the Qatar government has threatened to cut gas supplies to Belgium.
