MEP faces law suit after accusing deputies of fiddling

By Martin Banks

Date: 18/03/04

CONTROVERSIAL MEP Hans-Peter Martin faces legal action after he accused two fellow deputies of fiddling their expenses.

The Austrian caused an outcry earlier this year when he alleged that fellow MEPs, Rosemarie Müller and Willi Gorlach, each claimed their €262 daily allowance for a Socialist group meeting in Brussels that did not place.

Martin was suspended and then axed from the assembly's Socialist group following a row sparked by his accusations.

He then went on to make similar allegations against two compatriots, Green MEP Johannes Voggenhuber and Daniela Raschhofer, who he said had claimed Parliamentary expenses for personal flights.

He said 44-year-old Raschhofer, an MEP since 1996, had claimed travel allowance for personal trips to London. But Raschhofer told European Voice that she now plans legal action against Martin, who is not seeking re-election in the European elections on June 10-13.

Accusing Martin of a "personal vendetta" against Austrian deputies, Freedom Party member Raschhofer said: "These are very serious allegations which I strenuously refute. I have asked him to produce evidence that I misused the system in any way and he has failed to do so. In fact, I was on official business and had every right to claim for the trips to London. This has been widely reported in the Austrian media and is potentially highly damaging, particularly in an election year."

The MEP also accused Martin of underhand tactics aimed at discrediting her. "His assistant keeps calling my office, presumably to check I'm at work," she said.

Efforts to reform the controversial expenses system enjoyed by MEPs were blocked by EU foreign ministers earlier this year.

Under current rules, members are paid for first-class air travel even if they fly with a budget airline. They have to show a boarding pass, but not a receipt.

Austrian MEP Hans-Peter Martin is facing legal action after accusing two fellow MEPs of fiddling their expenses.