New accusations of corruption have arisen in the European People's Party

The newspaper wrote on Wednesday that the Tisza Party, marked by the name of Péter Magyar, is a declared supporter of the European Prosecutor's Office; but this now hits back at their party family, the European People's Party, to which they signed up in the European Parliament this summer.

On Wednesday morning, the newsletter of the otherwise pro-Brussels Politico news portal also reported that the European Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation into the persons belonging to the EPP due to corruption, which the prosecutor's office confirmed; however, as reported, no charges have yet been brought.

They continued that two days ago, the conservative Spanish newspaper La Gaceta wrote more openly about what it might be. The Belgian prosecutor's office is investigating Ouarda Bensouag, Manfred Weber's French chief of staff until now, who can take over the position of general secretary of the party family and its faction from November 1. They are investigating him because

he could borrow money from the People's Party and the European Parliament at the same time, which is prohibited by EU regulations.

More details about this have not yet become known, they wrote.

According to the newspaper, the news portal Europe Unfiltered also writes about the case, namely in the context: after the Qatargate corruption scandal that hit the European socialists last year, the People's Party does not lack a similar one, while Webert - the most influential person in the EU's institutional system after Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — fueled by personal ambitions.

It was noted that

the cases are also related to infighting within the EPP. In connection with Qatargate, Weber himself previously "preached" about the need for stricter rules.

Regarding Bensouag, according to the news, they can now also consider the fact that Michael Alexander Speiser, an influential German EU official close to the CDU, with a director position, is her husband.

Gaceta.es reminds us that accusations of corruption have recently arisen in relation to the EPP.

In 2022, Mario Voigt, director of online appearances for Weber's 2019 EU campaign, was prosecuted in Erfurt, Germany, and asked to have his immunity suspended. Namely because he was able to profit from the sale of face masks during the coronavirus epidemic. Last year, the Belgian police raided the EPP's offices in Brussels.

The Belgian Tom Vandenkendelaere, who is also a director in the EPP - whom Weber can appoint as his chief of staff - was investigated in connection with an official trip that was paid for from outside, but he did not admit it. No charges were brought against him, Magyar Nemzet wrote.

Source: MTI / Hungarian Nation

Cover photo: Péter Magyar, president and MEP representative of the Tisza Party (b) and Manfred Weber, president of the European People's Party (EPP) hold a press conference in Strasbourg on October 9, 2024. MTI/Boglárka Boglárka