The book “Il Peccato di Eva” is the first work in Italy dealing with the Qatargate scandal. Its authors, journalists Giuseppe Guastella (Corriere della Sera) and Lodovica Bullian (Il Giornale), present it as a crime novel, while providing a detailed analysis of the events surrounding a corruption case that shook the European Parliament at the end of 2022.
The protagonists are the “charming Greek socialist and Vice-President of the European Parliament” Eva Kaili, and her Italian husband Francesco Giorgi, a collaborator of former Italian MEP Antonio Panzeri. The story intertwines secret services, lobbyists, European politicians, Arab officials, suitcases of money, corruption, ambitious prosecutors, as well as romantic and family relations, creating an incredible yet true story.
The Scandal and Its International Implications
Panzeri, founder of the NGO Fight Impunity, has long been monitored by Belgian intelligence due to his suspicious ties with prominent and mysterious figures in Qatar and Morocco. Who alerted the authorities remains unclear – perhaps intelligence services from an Arab country hostile to Qatar, or a friendly European country. At least since 2021, he has been under close surveillance – just the beginning of Qatargate.
A key figure in the case is the famous Belgian prosecutor Michel Kleze, who is about to retire and aspires to enter politics. Investigations uncovered a massive, alleged corruption scandal that led to the imprisonment of both Eva Kaili and Giorgi, involving their families, including their then-two-year-old daughter.
The Controversial Judicial Case
According to the authors, the case outcome is at best a “judicial theory”, because:
- No concrete evidence of the alleged corruption has been found to date.
- Charges rely largely on Panzeri’s testimony, which allowed him to reduce his prison sentence to just one year.
The authors emphasize:“If it were proven that the former MEP’s statements were false, the entire investigation would collapse. Meanwhile, lives and political careers have been destroyed.”
Book Presentation in Milan
The book was presented on September 26 at the Fondazione Corriere della Sera in Milan. In addition to the authors, Eva Kaili was expected to attend, adding another layer to this real-life story of political and judicial intrigue.
Source: pagenews.gr