• Belgian federal police executed a series of raids related to a corruption investigation involving Huawei and the EU Parliament.
• Several suspects, including lobbyists, have been detained for questioning regarding allegations of bribery and forgery.
• The investigation points to systematic corruption practices since 2021, with payments disguised under the guise of commercial lobbying.

Belgian authorities have recently launched a high-profile investigation into allegations of corruption within the European Parliament, focusing on the Chinese tech giant Huawei. On Thursday, several arrests were made as police conducted numerous raids across Belgium and Portugal, targeting entities suspected of engaging in “active corruption” to benefit Huawei. Over 100 police officers participated in these operations, which included searches at 21 different locations as reported by the Belgium Federal Public Prosecutor's Office. According to investigators, the corruption enabled by a “criminal organization” was allegedly conducted “very discreetly” and regularly between 2021 and the present day. Various forms of bribery included excessive gifts, such as travel expenses, food, and invitations to high-profile events like football matches, SCMP noted. These activities were purportedly disguised as commercial lobbying efforts aimed at promoting Huawei’s business interests in Europe. The operation is reminiscent of the previous “Qatargate” scandal that shook the European Parliament, where lawmakers faced serious allegations of corruption pertaining to Qatar and Morocco. According to details released by Belgian media such as Le Soir, several lobbyists for Huawei were detained as part of this crackdown, although no current European Parliament members were among those arrested, as confirmed by a police source BBC. Investigators are also looking into potential money laundering connected to the illicit financial flows surrounding these activities. Evidence suggests that payments made to influence political positions may have been funneled through legitimate conference expenses or disguised as payments to third parties. The judicial authorities have ordered that office spaces linked to two parliamentary assistants be sealed as part of the ongoing inquiry, further emphasizing the serious implications of these allegations Channel News Asia. Huawei has publicly stated its commitment to compliance with laws and regulations and has expressed willingness to cooperate with the investigation. The company faces heightened scrutiny across Europe amid security concerns regarding its products in critical telecommunications infrastructure. The calls for further action from the European Parliament reflect the increasing pressure to maintain its integrity and credibility in safeguarding against such systemic corruption, especially as investigations progress Al Jazeera.