Illegal campaign financing: Financial investigation searched the seat of Le Pens party

Financial investigators have moved into the headquarters of France’s right -wing populist Marine Le Pen and searched the offices of the racial emile nationally (marginal). As the Paris public prosecutor said, there is indications of illegal financing of the 2022 presidential election campaign, the parliamentary election campaign 2022 and the European election campaign 2024. A corresponding investigation was initiated a year ago.

The investigation should clarify whether these election campaigns were financed in particular by illegal loans from private individuals who would benefit the party or candidates of the RN. In addition, it is about excessive invoices for services or invoices for fictional services that were later included in the applications for a flat -rate state reimbursement of the election campaign costs, the public prosecutor said. In addition to the party headquarters, the headquarters of several companies and the residence of the managing directors of these companies were searched.

RN boss speaks of attack on democracy

RN boss Jordan Bardella spoke of a “spectacular and unprecedented action”, which is clearly part of a new campaign to harass the party. It is a difficult attack on pluralism and democracy. “We just know that all the files affect the last regional, presidential, parliamentary and European elections- that is, the entire election activity of the party- are now in the hands of the judiciary.”

At the end of March, a court of Le Pen, her party and other party managers had convicted for the embezzlement of EU funds. Le Pen has appealed against the judgment and contacted the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).