Qatargate accused Marc Tarabella will go back to work as soon as he is released from prison under electronic surveillance, Belgian press reports today.
The Belgian MEP stands accused of being part of a gang who manipulated the work of the European Parliament on behalf of Qatar for payment. He will take up his other role as mayor (or bourgmestre in French) of the village of Anthisnes, to the south of Liege, La Capitale reports.
“He will resume his duties as mayor as much as possible. But yes, he becomes titular mayor again,” the president of the municipal council, Francis Hourant, told the newspaper. Tarabella, who has spent two months in prison in preventative custody, denies the charges against him.
Given that the conditions of his bail mean that he will not be able to leave his house, Tarabella will not attend council meetings in person. Council members will however be able to visit him at his house.
Tarabella has a good deal of support locally. Friends and family have held rallies for him.
The news follows the decision to release former Parliament vice president Eva Kaili on bail, also under electronic surveillance. Once Tarabella and Kaili are out, all suspects will have been released pending trial at an as yet unknown date. Kaili also denies the charges against her.
According to leaked police documents, a number of other Euro MPs are under suspicion, though no arrests, or interviews have taken place in recent weeks.
