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CORRUPTION SCANDAL: Ex-EU Commissioner Reynders in the sights of investigators!
Investigations against ex-EU Commissioner Reynders on suspicion of money laundering and gambling scandal in Brussels.
CORRUPTION SCANDAL: Ex-EU Commissioner Reynders in the sights of investigators!
Former EU Commissioner Didier Reynders, an émigré Belgian politician who was until recently responsible for justice and the rule of law, is suspected of money laundering. As reported by the news platform Follow The Money and the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, Reynders was questioned by the police and several of his apartments were searched. The investigation, led by the Attorney General's Office in Brussels, raises questions after Reynders is said to have purchased "e-tickets" - vouchers worth between 1 and 100 euros - at points of sale that can be transferred to a gaming account with the National Lottery. These could have been purchased in cash, with the winnings then being deposited into Reynders' digital account before being transferred to his checking account. What remains critical is where he got the funds to purchase these tickets, as highlighted in the report on the case.
Investigations and political consequences
Reynders already made a controversial impression during his term in office from 2019 to 2024. According to the EU Commission, there is currently no further information about the case, but it will work with the Belgian authorities if necessary. In addition to being Commissioner for Justice, Reynders had previously served as Belgian Finance Minister and Foreign Minister. The allegations could stir up the political waters of the European Union again after a corruption scandal involving then EU Parliament Vice-President Eva Kaili made headlines. If the suspicions against Reynders are confirmed, this could represent the second major scandal within EU politics, which would have devastating effects on the integrity of the institutions, as the Kleine Zeitung also notes.
Current events show that the EU and its institutions are under increasing pressure from the public. Reynders' next steps and further developments in this sinister story will be closely monitored, as the political and legal consequences could be important not only for the politician concerned, but also for EU politics as a whole.