French prosecutors announced on Thursday that some people had been detained in a bone case involving the European Parliament and Chinese tech large Huawei.
The defendants are being questioned over their “alleged engagement in lively corruption within the European Parliament, as well as for fraud and use of forgeries,” according to the national prosecutor’s office.
Further charges include accepting payment and “excessive products like food and travel expenses or regular invitations to sport games” in exchange for promoting “purely personal business interests.
The attorney’s office confirmed that the alleged corruption “is said to have benefited Huawei” and has been occurring constantly since 2021.
According to the report, around 100 authorities officials conducted 21 attacks in both Portugal and Belgium.
Who is responsible for the incident?
Information about the people who were detained have not been made public.
According to a policeman cause, none of the people being questioning are EU politicians. However, French media reported that cops were watching over a hundred parliamentarians.
The suspects were referred to as “lobbyists” by the media, and it was reported that one of the investigation’s key witnesses was a former political assistant who had formerly served as Huawei’s European public affairs director.
Huawei stated that it would speak with the authorities to fully understand the circumstances and that it took the allegations of bribery significantly.
The communications business stated in a statement that” Huawei has a zero tolerance policy toward fraud or other wrong,” and that it is” committed to complying with all applicable laws and regulations at all times.”
The fresh allegations, according to clarity activists, “make a mockery of politics at the European Parliament.”
MEPs have been practicing a joyful ethic for very long and are still living in a society of impunity, according to Nicholas Aiossa, director of Transparency International EU.
The most recent incident comes less than two years after Brussels was shook by the” Qatargate” scandal. A number of EU politicians were charged with being paid to support Qatar and Morocco’s interests in that scandal. Both nations have denied any wrongdoing.
This post was updated on March 14, 2025 to incorporate a Huawei reply.
