Belgian probe seeks information on former Hungarian rival Guy Verhofstadt

Belgian prosecutors are conducting a probe that involves gathering data on Guy Verhofstadt, who served as Belgium's prime minister from 1999 to 2008 and remains a Member of the European Parliament until 2024. The inquiry targets the years 2009-2019, when Verhofstadt led the liberal ALDE faction in the European Parliament. EU institutions, specifically the European Public Prosecutor's Office and OLAF, have requested information from Belgian authorities regarding the oversight of parliamentary interns, a matter in which Verhofstadt was not personally involved as faction leader.

His attorneys, Christine Mussche and Quinten De Keersmaecker, state that Verhofstadt has not been interrogated, faces no specific accusations, and is cooperating fully with OLAF. The European Public Prosecutor's Office declined to confirm the existence of an active investigation. Verhofstadt has previously criticized Viktor Orbán and the Hungarian government on several occasions.