On Wednesday, French financial police and 2 investigative judges conducted a search at the office of the National Unity in Paris. The officers secured documents, e-mails and account books related to the regional, presidential and parliamentary campaigns of 2022 from the same year and European campaigns of 2024. The action besides included offices of related companies and private apartments.
The investigation is being conducted on suspicions of illegal financing of electoral campaigns. The Public Prosecutor's Office shall verify that the organization has been able to usage undisclosed private loans and that fictional invoices have been issued to rise the amount of reimbursement from the State budget. So far, no 1 has been formally charged. The investigation is about fraud, money laundering and paper forgery.
The organization chief Jordan Bardella found the investigative activities politically motivated. In a message published on social media, he stated:
"This spectacular and unprecedented operation is clearly part of a fresh harassment campaign. This is simply a serious attack on pluralism and democratic change."
The party's erstwhile treasurer, Wallerand de Saint-Just, told journalists:
"We did nothing wrong."
The background to the police operation is the erstwhile conviction of Marine Le Pen in March and April this year for misuse of European Parliament funds. As a consequence of this judgment, a five-year ban was imposed on her, although the appeal proceedings are inactive pending. In a separate investigation concerning the ID group in the European Parliament, there are themes related to expenditure of up to EUR 4.3 million.
The D.A. announces that the investigation will continue. Collected materials may lead to charges in the future. organization representatives stress that they act legally and reject abuse charges.
