A new bribery scandal involving Huawei has shaken the European Parliament, with police raids in Belgium and Portugal on Thursday. The operation is centered on allegations that lobbyists for the Chinese telecom giant bribed current and former European Parliament members to promote the company’s interests in Europe, reports DW.
Multiple arrests have been made, though no EU lawmakers were among those detained, according to Belgian media reports. Authorities revealed that the investigation is focused on uncovering whether Huawei’s representatives offered bribes in the form of lavish gifts, travel expenses, and other incentives to sway political decisions in favor of the company.
Belgium’s federal prosecutor confirmed the ongoing investigation, which includes charges of active corruption, forgery, and the use of forged documents. The probe has also targeted several individuals for their suspected involvement in “criminal organization” activities, operating secretly and regularly from 2021 onward.
Police forces in both Belgium and Portugal, including over 100 officers, conducted searches across multiple locations. A suspect has been arrested in France, and more than 20 search warrants were executed. The investigation has also uncovered a link between the scandal and a former parliamentary assistant, Valerio Ottati, who worked as Huawei’s EU public affairs director. Ottati, a Belgian-Italian lobbyist, had previously served as an assistant to two Italian MEPs involved in China policy.
Huawei’s involvement in the bribery scandal adds to its already contentious position within the European Union. In 2023, the European Commission labeled the company as a security risk for 5G networks, urging EU states to exclude its equipment from their mobile infrastructure.
The latest scandal is likely to put additional pressure on the European Parliament to address ethical concerns and enact more stringent oversight measures. Transparency advocates have condemned the Parliament for its lack of reforms after the 2022 “Qatargate” scandal, which saw several MEPs accused of accepting bribes to promote the interests of Qatar and Morocco.
“These new allegations make a mockery of democracy at the European Parliament. MEPs continue to exist in a culture of impunity, and urgent reform is needed,” said Nicholas Aiossa, director of Transparency International EU.
With several lobbyists taken into custody, the investigation into Huawei’s alleged efforts to influence EU political decisions is likely to deepen, raising concerns over corruption and the role of corporate influence in EU policymaking.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
