Three months after his arrest as part of the investigation into “Qatargate” in the European Parliament, Luca Visentini was dismissed on Saturday from his post as secretary general of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC).
The Italian trade unionist was arrested in December as part of the Belgian investigation into suspicions of corruption of MEPs involving Qatar and Morocco, then released on conditions after two days in police custody. He admitted, at the end of December, to having received “a donation of less than 50,000 euros” from the NGO Fight Impunity, led by former Italian MEP Pier Antonio Panzeri, considered one of the key suspects in the case. Luca Visentini had then assured that it was about the reimbursement of certain expenses of his campaign to take the head of the CSI.
The General Council of the ITUC has, in a communicatedthat “Luca Visentini did not[vait] plus his confidence as Secretary General” and that one “Extraordinary World Congress” would be organized “as soon as possible with a view to electing a new Secretary General”. Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers “Qatargate”: the European Commission splashed
“No evidence of donations from Qatar or Morocco”
“The events of the past few months have considerably damaged the reputation of the ITUC. Important lessons have been learned. (…) We are determined to protect the ITUC from any form of undue influence, and even from any hint of influence”commented Akiko Gono, the president of the organization.
The ITUC, which federates 338 trade unions in 168 countries and territories around the world, however assures that it has not found “no evidence of donations from Qatar or Morocco having influenced its policies or programs”.
Luca Visentini was elected in November at the head of the organization, before being suspended from his functions, on December 21, by the governing body of the ITUC.
Three people are currently in pre-trial detention in Belgium as part of the investigation opened by the Belgian courts into suspicions of interference by Qatar and Morocco in the positions taken by the European Parliament. Read also: “Qatargate” and “Marocgate”: MEPs Eva Kaili and Marc Tarabella remain in pre-trial detention
During a first wave of arrests and searches on December 9 in Brussels, investigators seized 1.5 million euros in cash. Qatar and Morocco have strongly denied being the source of any corruption. Read also: Article reserved for our subscribers “Qatargate”: the investigation reveals a rudimentary system of corruption
Source: Globeecho
