Italian trade unionist Luca Visentini, involved in the corruption investigation in the European Parliament (EP), was fired on Saturday as Secretary General of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the organization announced in a press release on Sunday.
“[O Conselho Geral da CSI-ITUC] decided that Luca Visentini no longer has the confidence [da organização] as Secretary-General,” the document says, proposing that an Extraordinary World Congress be held as soon as possible to elect a new leader.
“The events of the past few months have damaged CSI’s reputation. Important lessons have been learned. […] We are committed to protecting CSI from any form of undue influence, even perceived influence,” said Akiko Gono, president of the organization.
However, the CSI, which unites 338 unions in 168 countries and territories around the world, guarantees that “it has not found any evidence” of donations from Qatar or Morocco “to influence its policies or programs”.
Luca Visentini was arrested in December 2022 in the Belgian investigation into alleged corruption of MEPs involving Qatar and Morocco, but was eventually released two days later, although he has to appear regularly in court.
At the end of December, the 54-year-old Italian trade unionist admitted to receiving a cash payment – “a donation of less than 50,000 euros” – from the non-governmental organization Fight Impunity led by a compatriot, former deputy Pier Antonio Panzeri, considered the any of the main suspects in the case.
However, Visentini assured that the donation was not linked to any attempted corruption or influence in favor of Qatar, underlining that the money was intended to reimburse some costs generated in the campaign to take over the leadership of the CSI.
Visentini was elected leader of the organization in November before being suspended by CSI’s governing body on December 21.
On Saturday, the CSI said it was considering adding “possible changes to campaign funding for the election of leaders” of the confederacy to its bylaws.
Currently, three people are in preventive detention in Belgium as part of the investigation opened by the Belgian courts on suspicion of interference by Qatar and Morocco in the positions of the European Parliament, through cash payments made through Pier Antonio Panzeri.
On December 9, during a first wave of arrests and searches in Brussels, investigators seized 1.5 million euros in cash.
For the past three months, Qatar and Morocco have vehemently denied involvement in any form of corruption.
Source: DN
