The Belgian prosecutor’s office has withdrawn its request to the European Parliament to lift the immunity of an Italian MEP from the centre-right party who is under investigation in connection with the Huawei bribery case, Euractiv reports.
On Wednesday, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola named Giusi Princi as one of five MEPs under investigation. However, less than 24 hours later, Princi said the request had been withdrawn.
“I’m relieved by the urgent withdrawal request, which confirms my total non-involvement in the so-called Huawei-gate,” Princi said in a statement. “Though I remain shaken by having been dragged into this over objectively baseless claims.”
A source in the EPP confirmed that Metsola had received a letter from the Belgian prosecutor’s office informing her of the withdrawal of the request.
Yesterday, Princi called her involvement in the Huawei case “a clear case of mistaken identity.” She said she had been accused of participating in an unreported meeting in Brussels on June 25, 2024, which she denies. Princi said she was in Italy that day “at her daughter’s graduation concert,” adding that she could confirm this with “numerous documents.”
