National Rally targeted by European Prosecutor's investigation into misappropriation of funds
Police operations have been conducted in several countries, including France, as part of an investigation by the European Prosecutor's Office into alleged misappropriation of public money within the former Identity and Democracy group in the Strasbourg Parliament.
National Rally targeted by European Prosecutor's investigation into misappropriation of funds
Police operations were launched on Tuesday in several member states, including France, at the direction of magistrates from the European Prosecutor's Office. The objective: to clarify a possible misappropriation of public funds for the benefit of the former political group "Identity and Democracy", where the French far-right party sat in the Strasbourg Parliament. The facts in question are said to have occurred between 2019 and 2024.
Jordan Bardella, at the head of the National Rally, acknowledged that companies that had collaborated with his movement had been subject to these raids. He nonetheless refrained from mentioning specific identities.
This legal matter comes at an already tense time for the political group. Its main figure, Marine Le Pen, is due to learn on 7 July next the outcome of her appeal trial concerning another matter of misappropriation of European subsidies, this time linked to the remuneration of parliamentary assistants.
According to the suspicions of the investigators, the funds allocated by the community institution would have been used to finance activities unrelated to the legitimate missions of representation at the European level.
Source: Radio France / France Culture
Source: Radio France - Justice