Key facts
- EU lawmakers are expected to vote against lifting the immunity of Renew MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk.
- Kyuchyuk is being investigated by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).
- The prosecutor in charge of Bulgaria's EPPO office is suspended due to misconduct.
- Kyuchyuk's party argues the investigation may be politically motivated.
- Prosecutors allege Kyuchyuk misused parliamentary assistant funds to employ party officials.
European Union lawmakers are anticipated to vote against lifting the immunity of Ilhan Kyuchyuk, the chair of the Parliament’s legal affairs committee and a Renew MEP. The decision, expected on Thursday, comes as Kyuchyuk faces an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO).
Concerns about the impartiality of the proceedings have been raised by lawmakers on the legal affairs committee. These concerns stem from the fact that the prosecutor overseeing Bulgaria’s EPPO office has been found guilty of "serious misconduct" by the EPPO supervisory board and is currently suspended, pending potential dismissal. The committee members suggest that the case against Kyuchyuk might be politically motivated, given that he and his party have reportedly been targets of political opponents in Bulgaria.
Prosecutors allege that Kyuchyuk hired parliamentary assistants who were, in fact, working for his national party in Sofia instead of performing duties for him as a Member of the European Parliament, which would be a breach of parliamentary rules. These allegations bear resemblance to a case involving French politician Marine Le Pen, who was convicted of misusing European Parliament funds for similar reasons.
Kyuchyuk has stated that he has recused himself from any deliberations on the matter and expressed trust in the Parliament's institutions. He has previously denied any wrongdoing. The legal affairs committee's decision will require ratification by the plenary session in July.