French far-right National Rally party headquarters raided by police

Police raided the headquarters of France’s far-right National Rally (RN) and seized documents as part of an investigation into alleged illegal campaign financing. The party's leader, Jordan Bardella, called it 'a harassment campaign'.

The raid followed EU financial prosecutors launching a separate investigation into the misuse of €4.3m by the former far-right Identity & Democracy (ID) group, which included RN.

This setback for the party comes after Marine Le Pen was convicted of embezzling EU funds and barred from running for office for five years, ending her 2027 presidential election hopes.

Bardella, asked by Le Pen to prepare for campaigning in her place, reported that the RN headquarters were being searched by about 20 police officers, who seized emails, documents, and accounting records related to past elections.

The investigation, initiated in July last year, aims to determine if campaigns in 2022 and 2024 were funded through illegal loans or fake invoices. Company executives' offices and homes were also searched.

The EU prosecutors' investigation stems from a report alleging improper spending of EU funds by the ID group, which included RN MEPs. Most funds reportedly benefited companies linked to a former Le Pen adviser and his wife.

Le Pen has appealed her conviction and aims to run for the Elysée in two years. Polls indicate she or Bardella would be strong contenders.

According to the source: The Guardian.