European People’s Party offices raided by Belgian and German police

Police from Belgium and Germany raided the places of work of the centre-right European Folks’s Occasion (EPP) in Brussels on Tuesday morning. 

The EPP is the most important occasion on the European stage and its group holds the most important variety of seats within the European Parliament.

Its headquarters is positioned in Rue du Commerce, within the European quarter of Brussels.

“The go to is linked to an ongoing inquiry in Thuringia, Germany,” an EPP spokesperson mentioned in a brief press launch.

“The occasion is cooperating in full transparency with the authorities concerned, offering all related info and documentation.”

The occasion didn’t present any additional particulars concerning the investigation.

The Thuringian authorities didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

German media reported the probe isn’t directed towards the occasion or any of its present workers however towards Mario Voigt, the CDU chief in Thuringia, who is suspected of corruption and bribery.

Voigt labored for the EPP through the 2019 electoral cycle.

Investigators are reportedly making an attempt to find out how a lot cash Voigt presumably may have acquired or dealt with throughout that point. They’re additionally looking for paperwork concerning work contracts and talking with witnesses in Brussels, German media mentioned.

Voigt denies the accusations. His attorneys have described the probe, which started in September 2022, as “disproportionate and extreme” and demand his consumer has performed “nothing improper.”

A pan-European group, the EPP encompasses a few of Europe’s most distinguished politicians, together with European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

The EPP is at present led by Manfred Weber, who hails from the Bavaria-based CSU occasion.

This text has been up to date to incorporate new info.