Belgian authorities are investigating former EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders for suspected money laundering, a case that has gained traction since his EU immunity expired when his term ended.
Police raided multiple properties tied to Reynders, including his private residence, as part of an ongoing probe that reportedly began months ago.
Reynders allegedly used e-ticket vouchers from the Belgian National Lottery, worth between €1 and €100, to launder money by transferring it into his lottery account, playing games, and funneling the funds into his private account. This activity is believed to have started during his political career in Belgium and may have continued during his time in the European Commission.
A longtime fixture in Belgian politics, Reynders held prominent roles as minister of finance, foreign affairs, and defense between 1999 and 2019 before serving as EU Justice Commissioner from 2019 to 2024. Notably, his portfolio once included oversight of the Belgian National Lottery.
This isn’t Reynders’ first brush with scandal. In 2019, a former Belgian intelligence agent accused him of corruption and money laundering, but the prosecutor dropped the case due to a lack of evidence.
Reynders’ tenure as Justice Commissioner was marked by his vocal criticism of Hungary under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. He actively worked to block €19 billion in EU funds to Hungary over alleged rule-of-law violations. While he has not been detained, the investigation casts a shadow over his career as he exits his high-profile post.
