“It has come to light that Russia approached MEPs, but also paid them, to promote its propaganda.” Alexander De Croo said so, as reported by the Belgian media. “There was close collaboration” between the Belgian and Czech secret services to destroy a Russian propaganda network, De Croo indicated. The president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, “is aware of the accusations made” in the newspaper Voice of Europea vehicle for Russian disinformation activity, and the European Chamber is “examining” the veracity of the accusations, the EP press services confirmed.
The President of Renew Europe, Valérie Hayer, has written to the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, calling for the launch of an immediate and transparent investigation, in collaboration with the national authorities, to discover the extent of the influence operation and the allegations of potential corruption. The party announced this in a note, underlining that it is necessary to take “disciplinary action quickly against all deputies or candidates involved”. Renew Europe also submitted a request for urgent discussion in the European Parliament, accompanied by the adoption of a resolution, to discuss «Allegations of Russian interference in the work of the European Parliament and foreign interference in the European elections», in the presence of the Vice-President of the European Commission for values and transparency, Vera Jourová and the Council.
Speaking on the way home from Kiev, after discussing the continuing threat of Russian disinformation over the European elections with President Zelensky, Renew Europe president Valérie Hayer said she was “deeply concerned”. «While we congratulate the authorities who uncovered the operation, a full and transparent internal investigation by the President of the European Parliament is now necessary. If sitting MEPs or candidates in the next European elections have embezzled money from the Russian government or its proxies, they must be exposed and action taken. European voters need to know whether their MEPs or candidates in the next elections are working with the support of Russia or its allies. Democracy in Europe must be defended at all costs from external threats.”
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