Request for waiver of the immunity of Frank Vanhecke

The European Parliament adopted, by 564 votes to 61 with 42 abstentions, a resolution on the request for waiver of the immunity of Frank VANHECKE (NI, BE).  The report had been tabled for consideration in plenary by Klaus-Heiner LEHNE (EPP-ED, DE) on behalf of the Legal Affairs Committee.

To recall, at the request of the Dendermonde Public Prosecutor, the Belgian Minister of Justice made a request for the waiver of Frank Vanhecke in April 2008, in order to prosecute a criminal investigation into the Belgian Member, on suspicion of violating laws against racism and xenophobia by a publication in a Belgian newspaper.

Having considered the arguments both in favour and against waiving immunity, Parliament decided to waive the immunity of Frank VANHECKE.