London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Sep 11, 2026

Who’s who in the Qatar corruption scandal?

Who’s who in the Qatar corruption scandal?

Allegations of Qatari influence on European democracy reach the upper echelons of the European Parliament.

Suitcases of cash. Phones and computers seized. A senior politician arrested. 

The sprawling police probe into allegations of “criminal organization, corruption and money laundering” has rocked the European Parliament and the Brussels bubble. The list of people under investigation by Belgian and Italian police continues to grow.

Here’s what we know so far:


Eva Kaili

Position: Former European Parliament vice president from Greece, who was removed from the role Tuesday afternoon.
Investigation status:
Charged by Belgian police. Still in Brussels jail.


Alexandros Kailis

Position: Eva Kaili’s father.
Investigation status: Arrested but released by Belgian police.


Francesco Giorgi

Position: Kaili’s partner and adviser on the Middle East and North Africa to Andrea Cozzolino MEP.
Investigation status: Imprisoned and charged by Belgian police.


Pier Antonio Panzeri

Position: Italian ex-MEP and President of NGO Fight Impunity.
Investigation status: Charged by Belgian police.


Maria Colleoni

Position: Wife of Pier Antonio Panzeri.
Investigation status: Arrested by Italian police.


Silvia Panzeri

Position: Daughter of Pier Antonio Panzeri
Investigation status: Arrested by Italian police.


Luca Visentini

Position: General secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.
Investigation status: Arrested by Belgian police.


Unidentified

Position: Aide to MEP Marie Arena
Investigation status: The aide’s office has been sealed by police. Arena has not been questioned but has stepped down as chair of the Parliament’s subcommittee on human rights.


Marc Tarabella

Position: Vice-chair of the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with the Arab Peninsula.
Investigation status: Home raided by Belgian police. He has suspended himself from the Socialists and Democrats group.


Niccolò Figà-Talamanca

Position: Director General of NGO No Peace Without Justice
Investigation status: Charged by Belgian police.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
English Councils to Gain Power to Introduce Tourist Taxes by 2028
Kemi Badenoch Reshuffles Conservative Shadow Cabinet
Firefighters Make Progress Containing Major Wildfires in South Wales
John Lewis Partnership Reports £124 Million Loss
Study Says UK AI Data Centres Will Create Only a Quarter of Forecast Jobs
UK Government Considers Higher Industrial Water Prices Amid Supply Pressures
Andy Burnham Holds First Call With Donald Trump as UK Prime Minister
NHS Records Busiest Summer on Record as Heatwaves Drive Hospital Admissions
Home Secretary Orders Police Crackdown on Far-Right Anti-Migrant Vigilantes
UK Supreme Court Rules Northern Ireland Religious Education Curriculum Breaches Human Rights Standards
Markets Price in Four Bank of England Rate Rises by Next Summer
House of Commons Prepares Free Vote on Assisted Dying Bill
UK Government Bans Trade With Israeli Settlements in Occupied Territories
UK Economy Grows 0.4% in July as Artificial Intelligence Investment Supports Expansion
Andy Burnham Becomes UK Prime Minister After Keir Starmer Resigns
John Lewis Partnership Loss Widens to £124 Million
UK Government to Put White Working-Class Social Mobility at Centre of Equality Policy
McLaren Plans £450 Million Technology Investment Creating 1,000 UK Jobs
UK Chancellor Faces Calls for Wealth Taxes and Public Ownership in Autumn Budget
English Mayors to Gain Powers to Impose Uncapped Overnight Tourist Taxes
JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon Warns UK Government Against Bank Windfall Taxes
UK Air Traffic Control Outage Cancels More Than 2,000 Flights
UK Imposes Trade Ban on Israeli Settlements in the West Bank
UK Borrowing Costs Surge as Middle East Tensions Push Long-Term Gilt Yields to Highest Since 1998
Buckingham Palace Says Prince Harry and Meghan Will Not Resume Official Royal Duties
UK Treasury Faces Calls to Scrap £100,000 Childcare Support Threshold
Trades Union Congress Urges Labour Government to Rewrite Migration Policy
Riot Police Deployed After Anti-Migrant Protests Turn Violent in Portsmouth
UK Considers Replacing Some Disability Cash Payments With Direct Services
JPMorgan’s Jamie Dimon Warns UK Chancellor Against Higher Banking Taxes
UK Announces New Sanctions Targeting Israeli Settlements in West Bank
Metropolitan Police Investigate Alleged Illegal Donations to Reform UK
UK Charges Wiltshire Man With Assisting Russian Intelligence
UK Orders Urgent Review After Air Traffic Failure Cancels More Than 2,000 Flights
Merz Rebukes AfD Expansion in Saxony-Anhalt
King Charles Confirms Prince Harry and Meghan Will Remain Private Citizens
Labour Selects Former Child Refugee for By-Election in Keir Starmer’s Former Seat
Foreign Private Equity Accelerates Takeovers of London-Listed Industrial Companies
NHS Maternity Care Faces Scrutiny Over Support for Mothers After Caesarean Births
BBC Warns Staff Strikes Are Likely Amid Job Cuts and Programme Cancellations
English Housing Affordability Improves to Best Level in More Than a Decade
UK Health Commission Proposes Framework for Wider AI Adoption Across NHS
Labour Faces Pressure for Wealth Tax Ahead of Autumn Budget
Metropolitan Police Open Criminal Investigation Into Alleged Foreign Donations to Reform UK
UK Police Deploy Riot Officers After Anti-Immigration Unrest in Portsmouth and Dover
UK Defends Sanctions on Israeli Settlements Despite Diplomatic Retaliation
UK Air Traffic Control Failure Cancels More Than 1,000 Flights and Disrupts 65,000 Passengers
Compass Urges £10 Million Wealth Tax and Public Ownership Ahead of UK Autumn Budget
UK Government’s Devolution Plans Face House of Lords Scrutiny
Maldives Seeks New Chagos Sovereignty Talks With UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham
×