Police raid National Rally office in corruption investigation

French Police Conduct Raids on National Rally Headquarters

French police carried out a significant raid on the headquarters of the far-right National Rally party on Wednesday, seizing documents and accounting records. This operation is part of an ongoing investigation into potential illegal campaign financing linked to Marine Le Pen’s 2022 presidential bid and other political campaigns.

Jordan Bardella, the current leader of the National Rally, who took over the presidency in 2022, confirmed that police had taken “all files relating to the party’s recent regional, presidential, legislative, and European campaigns.” He described the raid as a “spectacular and unprecedented operation” and accused authorities of launching a new wave of harassment against the party. Bardella claimed the action was a serious attack on pluralism and democratic processes.

The raid occurred after Marine Le Pen, the former leader of the party, was convicted of embezzlement in April. She and 24 other officials were found guilty of misusing funds meant for European Union parliamentary aides to pay staff working for the party between 2004 and 2016. This violation contravened EU regulations.

However, the latest raid is connected to a separate, more recent case. According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, searches were conducted not only at the National Rally headquarters but also at the offices of unidentified companies and the homes of individuals associated with those companies. The operation was prompted by a judicial inquiry initiated a year ago, which includes allegations of fraud, money laundering, and forgery.

The investigation aims to determine whether the 2022 presidential campaign of Le Pen and the party’s campaigns for the European Parliament in 2024 and the French parliamentary elections in 2022 were funded through “illegal loans from individuals for the benefit of the party or National Rally candidates.” Additionally, the inquiry is examining claims that the National Rally overbilled for services or created fictitious charges to artificially increase the state aid allocated to the party for its electoral activities.

Despite the extensive nature of the investigation, no one has been formally charged in this case. The prosecutor’s office has yet to release further details about the specific allegations being pursued.

Key Points of the Investigation

• Campaign Financing: The primary focus of the inquiry is on whether the National Rally received illegal funding for its political campaigns.
• Allegations: The investigation includes accusations of fraud, money laundering, and forgery.
• State Aid: There are concerns that the party may have manipulated its financial records to receive more public funding than it was entitled to.
• Legal Consequences: While no charges have been filed, the scale of the investigation suggests that the prosecutors are taking the matter seriously.

Political Implications

The raid has sparked strong reactions from the National Rally, with Bardella condemning the operation as a politically motivated move. He argued that the actions of the authorities are aimed at undermining the party’s influence and suppressing democratic debate. This incident highlights the growing scrutiny faced by far-right political groups in France, particularly in the wake of recent legal challenges and public controversies.

As the investigation continues, it remains to be seen how the findings will impact the National Rally’s future operations and its standing in French politics. The outcome could have significant implications for the party’s ability to compete in upcoming elections and maintain its support base.