EU corruption scandal: European Parliament president reacts

Authorities searched offices of the European Parliament on Monday as part of an investigation into alleged corruption, Belgian prosecutors said.

A European Parliament vice president, Eva Kaili, and other lawmakers have been implicated in the scandal.

Kaili was arrested Friday after police allegedly found "bags of cash" in her home.

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola on Monday described the scandal as an "attack" on EU democracy.

"The enemies of democracy, for whom the very existence of this parliament is a threat, will stop at nothing," Metsola told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, France.

She blamed "malign actors linked to autocratic third countries," saying they had "allegedly weaponised NGOs, unions, individuals, assistants and members of the European Parliament in an effort to subvert our processes."