Greek Parliament Strips Immunity from Former EU Commissioner in Qatargate Probe
Greece's parliament voted to remove parliamentary immunity from former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos, allowing Belgian authorities to proceed with investigations.
On Thursday, Greece's parliament voted to end the parliamentary immunity that had protected former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos from arrest. The move follows a European arrest warrant issued by a Belgian investigating judge in June, accusing him of participation in a criminal group, public corruption and money laundering. Avramopoulos, a New Democracy lawmaker and former mayor of Athens, rejected any wrongdoing and announced plans to appear before Belgian authorities voluntarily.
The Qatargate investigation, which emerged in 2022, alleges that Qatar funneled cash and payments through NGOs to sway EU policy, a claim Qatar denies. Belgian raids have recovered roughly €1.5 million in cash, some found hidden in a suitcase at a Brussels hotel. Avramopoulos previously served as EU Commissioner for Migration and was an honorary board member of the NGO Fight Impunity, which is linked to the scandal.
Why it matters
Lifting immunity enables legal action against a senior former EU official in a major corruption case.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report that Greece's parliament voted to strip Avramopoulos's immunity, but the centrist coverage focuses on the vote count and his decision not to contest, while the right-leaning coverage stresses the arrest warrant, specific corruption accusations, and details of the Qatargate investigation.
CENTER
Centrist coverage presents the parliamentary vote and Avramopoulos's non-contestation in a straightforward factual report.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage highlights the seriousness of the accusations, the European arrest warrant, and the alleged Qatar-linked corruption.
The right emphasises
- European arrest warrant accusing participation in a criminal group, public corruption and money laundering
- Avramopoulos rejected any wrongdoing and will appear before Belgian authorities voluntarily
- Qatargate investigation alleges Qatar funneled cash through NGOs, with €1.5 million recovered
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