As announced on Thursday, the Chamber of Deputies Executive Office has filed an official complaint against the Pirate Party over concerns of misuse of public funds, following a report by the Court of Auditors. The decision in the bureau was unanimous, meaning all other parties are in agreement that the Pirates’ activities must be addressed.
Neither of the two Pirate Party MPs, Sven Clement and Marc Goergen, were ready to comment publicly on the Chamber bureau decision, having received legal advice not to say anything and to leave matters to the judicial authorities. The party’s finances, dating back to 2018, had been subjected to close scrutiny. This exercise was not applied to other parties, the Pirates emphasised. But independently it could be asked whether the Chamber needs clearer rules to avoid potential grey areas.
“I can only say that all the other factions and political sensibilities have been aware of the rules and have adhered to them,” said CSV faction president Laurent Zeimet. “I think one cannot attempt to distract from one’s misbehaviour by claiming there were no rules.”
On Thursday, Claude Wiseler raised the possibility of internal sanctions against the Pirate MPs. They asked on what basis these sanctions could be taken, as the Chamber regulations allow for a very limited number of cases.
The Left’s Marc Baum said he would welcome the measure.
“I think the Chamber as an institution has suffered damage through these two members’ actions, including damage to its reputation. In my view that falls within the Chamber’s disciplinary remit.”
The Pirates are upset that the Chamber of Deputies opted to make the announcement at a press conference, especially as the Court of Auditors had already passed on the report to the public prosecutor’s office. This gave rise to the reproach that this complaint is being used for political purposes. ADR faction president Fred Keup refused to let this allegation stand:
“I am not someone who likes to jump on a scandal bandwagon but I think, if someone like the Pirate member has positioned themselves as a great moral apostle in this country, and then does this and reacts in a way that they’re suggesting it is politically motivated, then that is complete rubbish. It’s a catastrophe.”
If a court ultimately rules that a criminal offence has been committed and sentences one or more members of parliament, the question arises whether they can remain a member of the Chamber. Keup expressed himself cautiously.
“We have to be careful we don’t create a precedent where an MP can be forced out of the Chamber despite being elected to the role. That is a matter, not necessarily for this case, but in general, that we have to keep in mind.”
Theoretically, Ben Polidori could also be questioned as part of the investigation, due to his membership of the party before switching allegiance to the LSAP. He declined to comment on the case.
As always, the presumption of innocence applies until a court rules otherwise.
