{
  "id": 11977617,
  "title": "Former Belgian PM Verhofstadt investigated in EU Parliament intern probe",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/04/former-belgian-pm-verhofstadt-investigated-in-eu-parliament-intern",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-04T17:46:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/former-belgium-prime-minister-guy-verhofstadt-european-parliament-intern-probe/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt is currently under investigation by Belgian federal prosecutors for his role in supervising European Parliament interns during his tenure leading the liberal group. The probe, which began this year, investigates the period between 2009 and 2019 when Verhofstadt chaired the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe group within the Parliament. ALDE subsequently merged with other groups to form Renew Europe after the 2019 European elections.\n\nAccording to an EU official with knowledge of the matter, Belgian authorities are conducting the investigation on behalf of the European Union bodies. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) requested information from Verhofstadt's team regarding the supervision of interns, as his role as group chair was not personally involved in the process. Verhofstadt's legal representatives, Christine Mussche and Quinten De Keersmaecker, stated that Verhofstadt has not been interviewed yet and has fully cooperated with the investigation, providing transparent explanations.\n\nVerhofstadt, a prominent pro-EU figure who served as Belgium's prime minister from 1999 to 2008 and as an MEP from 2009 to 2024, is not commenting further on the matter. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office declined to comment on ongoing investigations, as per their general policy to avoid jeopardizing the outcomes of potential procedures. The Belgian Federal Prosecutor’s Office has not yet responded to a request for information on the investigation.",
  "summary": "The probe focuses on the period from 2009 to 2019, when Verhofstadt chaired the ALDE group in the European Parliament.",
  "key_points": [
    "Former Belgian PM Guy Verhofstadt under EU Parliament intern probe",
    "Investigation began in 2023, covers 2009-2019 period",
    "Verhofstadt's team provides transparent explanations, has not been interviewed"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}