Arena told La Libre Belgique newspaper on Saturday that the judge had charged her with participating in a criminal organization but not corruption or money laundering. Most of the other main defendants were hit with all three charges.
She told the newspaper she was defending herself in light of media reports that she may have received gifts.
“For two years, I have seen my name tarnished and vilified in the media with accusations that imply I received gifts in return for favors, because that is corruption,” Arena said. La Libre.
She maintained her innocence and claimed the media was out to get her, saying, “In fact, I was indicted because I know other people who were indicted on corruption charges.”
Arena, a Belgian socialist politician, was chairman of the European Parliament’s human rights subcommittee and a frontrunner for the Socialist and Democratic groups when the scandal broke in late 2022.
In January 2023, Arena gave up her role as chair of the Human Rights Commission after Politico revealed that she had failed to report trips paid for by Qatar (she blamed her assistant).
She remained a member of parliament until the 2024 European Parliament elections, but failed to run as a candidate.
The Belgian authorities’ investigation, which has not yet been brought to trial, has resulted in several arrests from a legal team that includes other key defendants, including Eva Kaili, the former vice-president of parliament, and Antonio Panzeri, a former member of parliament who is believed to be the ringleader of the corruption ring. It faces several legal setbacks.
