Labour MEP Daniel Attard has publicly confirmed that Belgian authorities are seeking to question him as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged bribery by Chinese tech giant Huawei.

The request, which involves lifting Attard’s parliamentary immunity, relates to a football match he attended last September between Anderlecht and Ferencváros.

In a detailed statement posted on social media, Attard explained that the invitation to the match came from his Hungarian assistant, who suggested Attard accompany him and his son.

Attard claims he was not told the tickets came from a corporate source and had no knowledge that a Huawei-linked individual would be present. He added that the match was intended as a private, informal outing.

Attard acknowledged that the Huawei official briefly raised the idea of a future meeting during the game, which was then arranged and held two weeks later in Strasbourg. He insisted that all arrangements for that meeting were vetted in line with European Parliament rules and emphasised that he had no further contact with the company afterwards.

To address the situation, Attard has formally requested the waiver of his parliamentary immunity so he can cooperate fully with Belgian authorities. He insists he has nothing to hide and is eager to give a complete account of events, expressing a commitment to transparency and due process. He has also referred the matter to the leadership of the S&D Group for guidance.

In response to the situation, the Partit Nazzjonalista (PN) has strongly criticised Attard and called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to clarify what action, if any, will be taken against the MEP.

The PN noted that Attard is currently the only known MEP whose immunity has been formally requested in relation to the Huawei scandal. They allege the case reflects wider concerns of corruption within the European Parliament, involving attempts by Huawei to influence policy through gifts and hospitality.

The PN also accused Attard of attempting to deflect responsibility by placing blame on his assistant, arguing that this fits a broader pattern in the scandal, which includes not just MEPs but also their aides. The party further pointed to allegations of money laundering tied to the affair and framed Attard’s situation as a test of Labour’s commitment to integrity and accountability in public office.

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