Investigators examined headquarters of Le Pen's political party
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) has launched a formal investigation into allegations of financial misconduct involving the Rassemblement National (RN) party and its allies within the now-defunct Identity and Democracy (ID) group. The investigation, which focuses on the improper use of €4.3 million in EU parliamentary funds, has been ongoing since last year.
The alleged financial mismanagement occurred between 2019 and 2024, with a significant portion of the funds benefiting companies linked to relatives or former advisors of Marine Le Pen. These companies were reportedly overpaid for services such as administrative tasks and document printing.
In response to the investigation, Jordan Bardella, RN's president and head of the Patriots for Europe group, termed it a "new harassment operation by the European Parliament." He suggested that the probe is part of a broader effort to target populist politicians.
The investigation follows a recent conviction of Marine Le Pen and other RN officials in a separate case involving the misuse of EU funds. This conviction banned Le Pen from standing for office for five years, which could impact her potential participation in the 2027 presidential election.
The Paris prosecutor's office is leading the investigation, with raids conducted at the headquarters of Marine Le Pen's right-wing party and the homes of several company managers. Bardella states that all files related to the last regional, presidential, parliamentary, and European election campaigns are now in the hands of the justice system.
The probe aims to determine if these campaigns were financed through illegal loans from private individuals. The raids and investigation are related to the 2022 presidential, parliamentary campaigns, and the 2024 European elections.
RN leader Jordan Bardella described the raid as a "spectacular and unprecedented action" aimed at harassing the party. He further called it a serious attack on pluralism and democracy. Le Pen herself has appealed the verdict and has turned to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).
The investigation is still ongoing, with the EPPO refraining from providing further details to avoid compromising the results.
The ongoing investigation by the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) delves into the intersection of politics, finance, business, and general-news, as it probes allegations of financial misconduct within the Rassemblement National (RN) party and its allies. The investigation, centered around the misuse of €4.3 million in EU parliamentary funds, has revealed potential connections between the party and private individuals in the realm of campaign financing.
