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The European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) said on Tuesday they were conducting raids in four countries to probe alleged misappropriation of EU funds by the former far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group in the European parliament.
The EPPO said the searches were “part of an ongoing investigation into the use of EU funds by a former political group of the European Parliament between 2019 and 2024.”
The ID group was formally disbanded after elections in 2024 and was succeeded by a new grouping Patriots for Europe. It contained MEPs from a range of Eurosceptic parties including France’s National Rally (RN), Italy’s League (Lega) and the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
Jordan Bardella, RN president and head of the Patriots group, posted on X on Tuesday evening that “searches have been underway at the offices and private homes of communications service providers who have worked with us” since the morning.
The EU’s prosecutor announced formal investigations in July last year after media quoted a parliamentary report as saying said ID was suspected of improperly spending €4.3 million between 2019 and 2024.
Bardella at the time said the probe represented “a new harassment operation by the European Parliament”.
The RN is eyeing its best chance yet of winning the presidency in France next year, with polls suggesting it will have a commanding lead in the first round of voting.
But three-time RN presidential candidate Marine Le Pen may have to quit the race, and let Bardella run instead, if a Paris court next week upholds a five-year ban from office in a separate case of alleged fake jobs in EU parliament from 2004 to 2016.
Additional sources • AFP