European authorities have executed searches in four nations as part of an inquiry into the suspected misuse of Union funds by a disbanded far-right coalition in the European legislature.
The European Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed on Wednesday that it carried out “investigative measures in France and other European countries” related to an ongoing case examining how a former political faction used EU money from 2019 to 2024. The office declined to elaborate, citing the need to protect the investigation’s integrity.
According to reports from a French daily, the searches spanned France, Spain, Italy, and Belgium. The focus is on alleged financial irregularities within the now-defunct Identity and Democracy bloc, which previously included Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and Germany’s Alternative for Germany—the latter ousted from the group in mid-2024.
Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, confirmed that investigators had searched premises of contractors hired by his party. He stated on social media that searches were underway at offices and homes of communications providers who had worked with them.
Bardella also noted that he had been notified of an impending judicial inquiry against him, stemming from a complaint by an activist group regarding a short-term job he held at the European Parliament nearly twelve years ago. He insisted, “We have nothing to hide, and we will prove it.”
The investigation follows a European Parliament audit from last year alleging that parties within the former bloc improperly spent over four million euros through inflated or fake contracts and irregular procurement between 2019 and 2024. The prosecutor’s office formally launched its probe in July 2025.
This case mirrors a previous scandal from March 2025, when a French court convicted Le Pen, the National Rally, and over twenty associates for diverting EU funds. That ruling determined that parliamentary resources were used to support the party’s domestic activities in France.
As a consequence, Le Pen received a five-year ban from holding public office, effectively barring her from the 2027 presidential election. She has appealed the decision, with a verdict expected on July 7.