Brussels Parliament lifts Ilyas El Omari's immunity amid fraud probe

A Brussels parliamentary committee voted unanimously to strip Ilyas El Omari of his immunity, clearing the way for the prosecutor's office to interview him regarding suspected diversion of public money and forged documents. The investigation was triggered months earlier when the Dutch-language media platform Bruzz reported that an assistant to El Omari was assigned to his private enterprises. El Omari himself had expressed support for the immunity lift, emphasizing the need for the justice system to function.

President Bertin Mampaka used the occasion to highlight a 20% reduction in the parliament's budget compared with previous presidencies and warned that overall costs for Brussels deputies will fall by 15% relative to 2024. He framed the cuts as necessary choices to save where possible while still investing in Brussels' future.