Parliament lifts Avramopoulos-Konstantopoulou immunity
Parliament voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to lift the immunity of former European commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, allowing Belgian authorities to pursue proceedings against him in connection with the Qatargate corruption investigation.
Of the 266 lawmakers present, 264 voted in favor of lifting Avramopoulos’ immunity, while two voted “present.”
Avramopoulos, 73, served as the European Union’s commissioner for migration from 2014 to 2019 and is currently a member of the Greek parliament for Ilia with the governing New Democracy party.
Avramopoulos denies wrongdoing
The decision follows a European arrest warrant issued against Avramopoulos by a Belgian investigating judge in June.
The case is linked to Qatargate, an investigation into alleged bribery and influence-peddling involving European Parliament figures and Qatar.
After leaving the European Commission, Avramopoulos joined Fight Impunity, a nongovernmental organisation that has been linked to the wider investigation.
Avramopoulos has repeatedly denied any involvement in illegal activity. In a memorandum submitted to parliament, he said his conscience was clear and asked lawmakers to lift his immunity so that the investigation could proceed.
He said he had “no connection” with the alleged illegal acts under investigation and had never participated directly or indirectly in unlawful activities or acted to advance the interests of any state or third party.
Parliament also voted on Thursday to lift the immunity of Zoe Konstantopoulou, leader of the left-wing populist Course of Freedom party.
The vote was 175-90 and concerns a defamation case filed against Konstantopoulou by a journalist.
Parliament had already voted in May to lift her immunity in two other cases involving alleged defamation and disruption of court proceedings.
Those cases were brought by members of the judiciary who accused Konstantopoulou, who is also a practicing lawyer, of violating privacy laws and disrupting the functioning of a court during a trial.
The latest votes clear the way for the relevant judicial proceedings to continue.
Soruce:Kathimerini
