FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The international network "Euronews" has dedicated an article to Fredi Beleri and Ilaria Salis, the two young MEPs who are under arrest. In the article, both cases are compared, where as Ilaria Salis seems to gain freedom, Beleri should enjoy the mandate after serving the sentence.
The list of 720 MEPs elected this week includes two names who may enjoy more than others, as they are currently in custody for suspected criminal activity.
Ilaria Salis, of the Italian left party, and Fredi Beleri, a candidate of the Greek New Democracy, will soon go to Brussels and Strasbourg.
Both seem to be a "thorn in the side" for the countries where they were arrested, in Hungary and Albania, which face questions about the independence of the judiciary.
" We are very happy ," Sali's father Roberto told Euronews. " I hope she is free as soon as possible ."
Ilaria was arrested in Hungary just over a year ago and is still awaiting trial, accused of attacking neo-Nazi extremists, charges she has denied.
After success in two Italian regions, she is now set to be released, under rules that give MEPs immunity from legal proceedings in other EU member states.
In practice, the paperwork to secure her freedom can take four to five weeks and she may need time to recover, her father said, potentially jeopardizing her ability to attend the launch. the new EP session.
charges
Although she was released from prison and placed under house arrest on May 23, her conditions have been very difficult," added her father. He sees the activist's arrest as a "totally political action."
This accusation of judicial bias is also reflected for Beleri, a Greek citizen convicted of vote-buying after being elected mayor of Himara, in the south of Albania.
" It is a political arrest ... there is no evidence, no proof of any crime ," Marin Suli, Secretary General of OMONIA, told "Euronews".
" The legal state does not exist, it is Rama's rule ", added Suli, referring to the socialist prime minister of Albania.
Beleri will not be released automatically, as Albania is outside the EU, but Suli hopes he can start attending hearings after his two-year sentence expires in September.
Beleri has denied and appealed the charges – and Suli says they will take the case to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.
Greek blockade
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had threatened to block Albania's EU membership talks until the issue was resolved, before adding Beleri to his New Democracy party list.
In a Facebook post on Monday, Beleri hailed his victory as part of the "battle for democracy" and "European values".
" Light always wins over darkness ... the power of democracy can wipe out any coup ," he said. " I will work hard to be useful for my party, for New Democracy and above all for our country ".
EU rules aim to protect MEPs from political persecution – but lawmakers are not completely immune from justice.
They can still be arrested if caught in the act – as was the case with Eva Kaili, although she has denied wrongdoing in the Qatargate scandal.
Parliament can also agree to lift a lawmaker's immunity, as was the case with Greece's Ioannis Lagos after his far-right Golden Dawn party was declared a criminal organization.
Technically, MEPs can continue to hold their post after being convicted or imprisoned, but getting the job done isn't always logistically easy.
While in prison, Salis was only allowed one hour of interviews a month and was unable to run a conventional campaign.
After the elections, Beleri had to participate in a first meeting of the New Democracy MEPs through video conference, after having received special permission from SPAK. / Adapted "Pamphlet" from " Euronews "
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