Belgian prosecutors will be able to pursue their investigation into lobbying activities linked to Chinese telecoms giant Huawei
MEPs have voted to lift the immunity of the veteran Italian conservative Fulvio Martusciello, clearing the way for Belgian prosecutors to pursue their investigation into lobbying activities linked to Chinese telecoms giant Huawei.
With 344 votes in favour, 244 against and 25 abstentions, the European Parliament backed a request from the Belgian authorities to waive the immunity of the Forza Italia and European People’s Party (EPP) deputy. A request to lift immunity does not imply guilt or establish wrongdoing.
Three others named in the investigation – EPP MEP Salvatore De Meo, liberal MEP Nikola Minchev and Socialist lawmaker Daniel Attard – retained their parliamentary protections after fellow deputies voted on their cases. All the MEP named in the investigation denied wrongdoing.
The vote comes more than a year after the investigation began and clears the way for Belgian prosecutors to move forward with their case.
