On Tuesday, the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) executed coordinated searches across France, Spain, Italy, and Belgium as part of an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of European Parliament funds by the now-defunct far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group. The EPPO confirmed that the raids are linked to an ongoing probe into how the group used EU money between 2019 and 2024.
The ID group, which was formally dissolved after the 2024 European elections and replaced by the Patriots for Europe grouping, included MEPs from several Eurosceptic parties: France's Rassemblement National (RN), Italy's Lega, and the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). The investigation centers on suspicions that the group improperly spent €4.3 million during its five-year existence.
Political Reactions and Context
Jordan Bardella, president of the RN and leader of the Patriots for Europe group, posted on X on Tuesday evening that searches had been underway since morning at the offices and private homes of communications service providers who had worked with his party. He described the operation as "a new harassment operation by the European Parliament," echoing earlier complaints from his party about what they see as institutional targeting.
The EPPO formally launched its investigation in July 2024, after media reports cited a parliamentary document alleging that the ID group had misused funds. Bardella had already dismissed the probe at that time as politically motivated. The timing is particularly sensitive for the RN, which is currently polling strongly ahead of next year's French presidential election. Surveys suggest the party could secure a commanding lead in the first round, raising the stakes for any legal entanglements.
Marine Le Pen, the RN's three-time presidential candidate, may be forced to step aside and let Bardella run if a Paris court next week upholds a five-year ban from office in a separate case involving alleged fake jobs at the European Parliament between 2004 and 2016. That case, which has been ongoing for years, could reshape the French political landscape if it removes Le Pen from contention.
The raids come amid broader scrutiny of far-right parties across Europe. In Germany, authorities have investigated the AfD over campaign finance irregularities, while in Italy, Lega leader Matteo Salvini has faced legal challenges over migration policies. The EPPO's actions highlight the growing use of EU-level prosecutorial powers to police the use of bloc funds, a trend that has drawn both praise for accountability and criticism from some politicians who see it as overreach.
The investigation also touches on the wider issue of how European Parliament funds are allocated and monitored. Political groups receive substantial subsidies for administrative and communication activities, but oversight mechanisms have been criticized as insufficient. The ID group's case is one of several recent probes into alleged misuse of such funds, including cases involving mainstream parties.
As the EPPO continues its work, the outcome could have implications for the Patriots for Europe group, which now represents many of the same MEPs. The group's leadership has denied any wrongdoing, but the investigation is likely to remain a political flashpoint as European elections approach in 2029.
