Senior politicians, trade unionists, as well as the emotional partner of a European leader, are part of an obscure Italian network that, so far as is known, has been illegitimately accused of attacking the heart of European institutions. Train Y Morocco. A network of corruption and espionage whose extensive scope is still partially known and exposed a storm far away to quickly disappear from the horizon.
Veteran actor Antonio Panzeri
about 30 years ago, Antonio PanzeriThe Italian at the center of the mega scandal known as ‘Qatargate’ was a figurehead. left reference in Milan. At that time, when the Berlin Wall had just fallen, Italian politics was in crisis. But the Panzeri that was back then a prominent trade union leaderweathered the storm better than others. It gained a reputation for light years from its current position. main accused conspiracy of corruption and espionage Leading to Qatar and Morocco and involving other Italian and European politicians and lobbyists.
The charges against Panzeri are very serious. According to reports leaked from the Belgian press, the Italian politician, MEP in three legislatures Founder and CEO between 2004-2019 non-governmental organization Combating Impunity, He would try to illegally influence the European Parliament’s decisions to improve Qatar’s image (that is, in a way that goes beyond the usual lobbying). in return large sum of money.
But that’s just the tip of the scandalous iceberg. In fact, according to documents the Italian newspaper saw and quoted in the last few hours Republic and Belgian le soirPanzeri was to be part of a framework in which the Moroccan Directorate General for Labor and Documentation (DGED) also participated. Well, Rabat’s counterintelligence. Specifically, the suspicion is that Panzeri could be some kind of big Trojan horse. Provided service to African country From other lobbyists and smug politicians, as the Italian press reported.
Ironically, Panzeri was little more than a foreigner in Italy until this scandal. Actually when I was younger He was a member of the Italian Communist Party. (PCI) and the first legislature in the European Parliament, thanks to a candidacy submitted through Unidos en El Olivo. This was a centre-left coalition that existed until 2007 and brought together various parties. Heirs of Christian Democracy and PCI. Its successor is the Democratic Party (PD), a party that Panzeri joined while he was an MP. But all was forgotten.
Handsome Francesco Giorgi
The son of a teacher and a school principal very active in the volunteering sector, Francesco Giorgio He is a former collaborator of Panzeri and the emotional partner of Eva Kaili, Member of the Greek European Parliament, who was expelled from the position of vice-president of Parliament after the scandal came to light. known as “GeorgehandsomeThe Brussels resident, whom the judge held in precautionary custody after Wednesday’s deposition, “would be one of the first to start pulling the carpet, giving relevant information during the Belgian justice’s interrogations and admitting that he was acting in favor of Qatar.” and Morocco.
It’s not trivial because, after Political Science graduate in MilanGiorgi Moved to Brussels in 2009 and there he began a professional life associated with Panzeri and European socialists. So much so that he recently worked as an assistant to an Italian deputy and continued for him. Relations with Maghreb countries.
According to Italian media, when questioned by Belgian judges and trying to exonerate Kaili, who also has a common daughter of this passionate sailor, he replied, “I did everything I didn’t need for money.”
Andrea Cozzolino, resigned
Andrea CozzolinoFrancesco Giorgi’s boss has not yet been arrested or formally investigated, as has Giorgi and Panzeri. Yet this MEP Born in Naples (since 2009), member of the Italian Democratic Party (PD), first as emergency coordinator of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) group, then later unsubscribe from this group.
The reason may be found in recent leaks to Italian newspapers; bribed from Morocco, possibly in a coordinated action with Panzeri. Truths he flatly denied, stating that he was completely unaware of the entire investigation. “I was neither questioned, nor questioned, nor did they search me,” he defended himself.
Cozzolino’s name is not well known in Italy either. But in this country, before moving to Brussels, Agriculture Council Member He is from the Campania region and previously served as the local PD officer for the city of Naples.
Unionist Luca Visentini
Luca Visentini, who was arrested and later released, has been living for many years. Associated with the Italian union UIL and served as general secretary until last November. International Trade Union Confederation, The largest organization of its kind in the world.
He was born in 1969 in Udine (extreme north of Italy) and is a former philosophy student Visentini had come to the fore when he defended Qatar’s alleged progress on workers’ rights in an interview at the University of Trieste a few months ago. Qatar “must be presented as a success story,” he said. At least 6,750 migrant workers have died in the construction of World Cup-related facilities since 2010, according to human rights organizations.
This fact will be particularly serious as one of Qatar’s goals, facing the World Cup this year, is to show that Western unions support it.