Marc Tarabella

{{Infobox person

| name = Marc Tarabella

| image = Marc Tarabella - Wiki Loves Parliament - 2014 - P1760679.jpg

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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1963|3|11}}

| birth_place = Ougrée, Belgium

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| nationality = Belgian

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| occupation = politician

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Marc Tarabella (born 11 March 1963) is a Belgian politician who has been serving as a Member of the European Parliament for the French Community of Belgium with the Parti Socialiste, part of the Socialist Group. In February 2023 he was charged with corruption and money laundering in connection with the Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament.

Early life

Tarabella was born in Ougrée, a suburb of Seraing from a family originally from Versilia, Italy.{{Cite web |title="Caro Salvini, è lei il fannullone": lo sfogo di un europarlamentare belga-versiliese |url=https://www.iltirreno.it/versilia/cronaca/2014/01/15/news/caro-salvini-e-lei-il-fannullone-1.8472761 |access-date=2022-12-15 |website=Il Tirreno |language=en}}

Education

1986: Degree in sociology, University of Liège
1988: Seconded to the office of the Premier of the Walloon Region
1990: Customer adviser, General Savings and Retirement Fund

Political career

=Career in national politics=

1988–1994: Member of the Anthisnes Municipal Council
since 1994: Mayor of Anthisnes
2000: Member of the executive of the Huy-Waremme Federation of the Socialist Party
2003: President of the Rural Foundation of Wallonia
2002: Belgian coordinator of the committees supporting Ingrid Betancourt

=Member of the European Parliament=

In parliament, Tarabella sits on the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development. He is a substitute for the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs and a vice-chair of the Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

In January 2021, Tarabella became a member of the Italian left-wing party Article One.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XwrJpo1lFI Marc Tarabella, deputato belga del Pse, aderisce ad Articolo Uno. Benvenuto!], YouTube

Amid the Qatar corruption scandal at the European Parliament in late 2022, Belgian police searched Tarabella's home.Ali Walker and Sarah Wheaton (11 December 2022), [https://www.politico.eu/article/belgian-mep-marc-tabella-cops-raid-belgian-meps-home-amid-qatar-scandal/ Belgian MEP’s home raided in Qatar graft probe] Politico Europe He subsequently suspended himself from the S&D group, and his Walloon Socialist party revoked his membership. He also stepped down as member and vice chair of the European Parliament’s delegation to Qatar and other Arabian Peninsula countries.Eddy Wax (12 January 2023), [https://www.politico.eu/article/qatargate-marc-tarabella-step-down-eu-parliament-gulf-delegation/ Qatargate: Marc Tarabella steps down from EU Parliament Gulf delegation] Politico Europe.

In February 2023 the European Parliament voted to waive immunity for Tarabella. He was subsequently arrested, charged with corruption and money laundering and remanded into custody. He denied any wrongdoing.{{cite news|url=https://www.politico.eu/article/belgium-mep-marc-tarabella-charged-in-qatargate-probe/|title=Belgian MEP Marc Tarabella charged in Qatargate probe|date=11 February 2023|work=Politico Europe}} In April 2023 he was released from prison and the following month released from house arrest.{{cite news|url=https://www.brusselstimes.com/496482/european-parliament-bribery-scandal-tarabella-and-giorgi-released-from-pre-trial-detention|title=European Parliament bribery scandal: Tarabella and Giorgi released from pre-trial detention|date=9 May 2023|work=The Brussels Times}}