The European Public Prosecutor’s Office has significantly widened its investigations into the French Rassemblement National (RN) and its former European alliance. At the same time, house searches are underway in France and several other EU countries. The focus is on the suspicion that during the 2019 to 2024 legislative term, parliamentary group funds from the European Parliament worth several million euros may have been used for purposes other than those permitted.
House searches in multiple countries
According to the investigative authorities, the searches are taking place simultaneously in France, Belgium, Italy and Spain. The measures are part of an investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) that has been ongoing since July 2025 and is based on an audit report from the European Parliament’s financial directorate.
There is suspicion that more than 4.3 million euros from the European Parliament’s funds were not used in accordance with applicable rules. The former political group “Identity and Democracy” (ID), which included the Rassemblement National, is affected.
Suspected unlawful award of contracts
According to current findings, the investigations are focusing in particular on contracts with communications companies that are linked to the RN’s environment. The public prosecutor is examining whether services were awarded without the required tendering procedures or whether expenses were financed that would not have been permissible under the European Parliament’s rules.
The searches are primarily aimed at securing evidence. Investigators are seizing documents, electronic data carriers and contract documents to verify possible breaches of European financial regulations.
Jordan Bardella rejects the allegations
RN party leader Jordan Bardella confirmed the searches and said they targeted service providers and their private residences who had worked for his party. According to him, the Rassemblement National has not yet received a direct request from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Bardella announced that he would cooperate fully with the investigative authorities. At the same time, he emphasized that his party has nothing to reproach itself with and is approaching the investigations calmly.
Procedure independent of Marine Le Pen’s trial
The new investigation comes at a politically sensitive time for the Rassemblement National. An eagerly anticipated verdict is expected on 7 July in the appeal case against Marine Le Pen in connection with the affair concerning parliamentary assistants of the European Parliament.
However, there is no direct legal connection between the two proceedings. While the case against Marine Le Pen relates to allegedly improperly employed parliamentary assistants, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is now investigating possible irregularities in the use of group funds and the awarding of contracts within the former ID group.
European Public Prosecutor’s Office urges restraint
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office explicitly points out that the procedure is still at an early stage. House searches are purely investigative measures to secure evidence and are neither equivalent to an indictment nor to a finding of criminal guilt.
Only after the seized documents have been evaluated will it be decided whether the initial suspicion is substantiated and whether charges will be brought against individuals or organizations.
Due to their international dimension and the number of companies involved, the investigations could extend over a longer period. If the allegations are confirmed, this would be one of the largest known cases of alleged irregularities in the use of funds by a political group of the European Parliament.
Author: P. Tiko