The French far-right National Rally party is screaming foul play following police raids at their headquarters, branding the actions as a politically motivated aggression. The party's leadership is rallying around their right to fair treatment as the authorities pursue allegations of financial misconduct linked to campaign financing for the elections of 2022 and 2024.
French National Rally Party Condemns Police Raids as Political Persecution
French National Rally Party Condemns Police Raids as Political Persecution
The National Rally party in France decries police raids on its headquarters as an attack on democracy amidst ongoing financial investigations.
The National Rally (RN), helmed by Jordan Bardella, has expressed outrage after police conducted raids on their Paris offices amid an investigation into campaign financing. Bardella termed this "spectacular and unprecedented operation" as an affront to democratic pluralism. Authorities are delving into accusations of potential fraud against public figures, focusing on loans and donations related to the party's electoral campaigns.
Former national treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just vehemently defended the party, claiming that previous campaign accounts had been cleared and reimbursed, deeming the investigations as unacceptable persecution. Despite these legal hurdles, RN maintains a stronghold in public opinion polls, with Bardella recognized as one of the nation's favored political figures.
Earlier this year, Marine Le Pen, the party's notable leader, was handed a conviction for aiding in the embezzlement of EU funds, prohibiting her from contesting further elections for five years. While she has lodged an appeal, she has acknowledged the possibility of stepping aside for new leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
Bardella, who was away in Strasbourg during the raids, claimed that police officers utilized this opportunity to seize internal party materials from his office. In addition, multiple companies linked to the National Rally were also subjected to searches. The investigations tie back to a year-old inquiry into allegations of embezzlement and fraud related to the party.
The Paris prosecutorial office aims to discern whether illicit payments underwrote the RN’s campaigns and if fraudulent reimbursements were made in the process. Recently, the RN disclosed challenges in acquiring funds from French banks, resulting in loans from institutions in Hungary and Russia.
This week also saw the initiation of a formal investigation by the EU public prosecutor into a previous political assembly associated with the RN, amid claims of financial misappropriations. Countering these allegations, Bardella condemned the inquiries as a renewed instance of discrimination by the European Parliament against the National Rally.
Former national treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just vehemently defended the party, claiming that previous campaign accounts had been cleared and reimbursed, deeming the investigations as unacceptable persecution. Despite these legal hurdles, RN maintains a stronghold in public opinion polls, with Bardella recognized as one of the nation's favored political figures.
Earlier this year, Marine Le Pen, the party's notable leader, was handed a conviction for aiding in the embezzlement of EU funds, prohibiting her from contesting further elections for five years. While she has lodged an appeal, she has acknowledged the possibility of stepping aside for new leadership ahead of the 2027 elections.
Bardella, who was away in Strasbourg during the raids, claimed that police officers utilized this opportunity to seize internal party materials from his office. In addition, multiple companies linked to the National Rally were also subjected to searches. The investigations tie back to a year-old inquiry into allegations of embezzlement and fraud related to the party.
The Paris prosecutorial office aims to discern whether illicit payments underwrote the RN’s campaigns and if fraudulent reimbursements were made in the process. Recently, the RN disclosed challenges in acquiring funds from French banks, resulting in loans from institutions in Hungary and Russia.
This week also saw the initiation of a formal investigation by the EU public prosecutor into a previous political assembly associated with the RN, amid claims of financial misappropriations. Countering these allegations, Bardella condemned the inquiries as a renewed instance of discrimination by the European Parliament against the National Rally.
