Key facts
- Jordan Bardella, leader of France's National Rally, announced that police raided contractors his team had worked with.
- The European Public Prosecutor's Office confirmed an investigation into the use of European funds by a former political group.
- The raids are reportedly linked to allegations of financial wrongdoing against the Identity and Democracy group.
- The National Rally's predecessor group, Identity and Democracy, allegedly breached spending rules by at least €4.3 million.
Jordan Bardella, the leader of France’s National Rally and president of the Patriots group in the European Parliament, stated on Tuesday evening that authorities had raided the offices and private residences of communications contractors his team had worked with. While Bardella did not specify the reason for the raids, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed it was conducting investigative measures in France and other European countries as part of an ongoing investigation into the use of European funds by a former political group in the European Parliament between 2019-2024.
POLITICO had previously reported that the Patriots’ predecessor group, Identity and Democracy, had breached spending rules by at least €4.3 million, according to a confidential report. French daily Le Monde, which first reported the raids, indicated they were connected to these allegations of financial wrongdoing.
Bardella, who is leading opinion polls for the 2027 French presidential election, faces potential candidacy depending on the outcome of Marine Le Pen's appeal against her conviction for embezzling European Parliament funds and her subsequent ban from running for office. The National Rally has previously faced judicial probes, with its Paris headquarters searched last summer in a separate case concerning alleged electoral law violations, which the party denies.