Greek parliament lifts immunity of Dimitris Avramopoulos in Qatargate case

The Greek parliament voted on September 17, 2026, to lift the parliamentary immunity of New Democracy lawmaker and former European Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos. The decision, supported by 264 out of 266 deputies present, clears the way for the execution of a European arrest warrant issued by Belgian authorities in June. The 73-year-old politician faces allegations of participation in a criminal group, public corruption, and money laundering related to the widespread "Qatargate" scandal, which involves accusations of bribery by Qatar to influence EU officials. Avramopoulos has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating he has been fully cooperative with the investigation.

Following the vote, Avramopoulos announced his intention to appear voluntarily before Belgian authorities to address the accusations. He noted that his legal representatives have been in contact with prosecutors to schedule a visit, emphasizing that he did not request a delay in the immunity proceedings. The European arrest warrant must be executed within three months, with the deadline expiring on September 24, 2026. While the European Parliament has also initiated a separate process for the waiver of his immunity, the Greek parliamentary vote serves as a critical step in facilitating the legal process in Belgium.