Leaders of France’s right-wing National Rally (RN) have condemned a police raid on the party’s headquarters as politically motivated, amid a judicial investigation into alleged irregularities in campaign financing.
On Wednesday, around twenty armed officers from France’s financial crimes unit, accompanied by two judges, searched RN offices in Paris. The probe centres on the party’s use of private loans during the 2022 presidential and parliamentary campaigns and the 2024 European elections.
Marine Le Pen, leader of RN’s parliamentary group, called the accusations “scandalous” and warned the situation posed a “democratic problem”. “No bank will lend to the RN,” she said, defending the party’s reliance on individual lenders. French law allows such loans, but they must not be habitual or disguised donations.
RN deputy Jean-Philippe Tanguy accused judges of “spying” on the main opposition force. “They opened files that had nothing to do with the investigation,” he said.
Party president Jordan Bardella called the operation “unbelievable” and claimed it was designed to prevent RN from gaining power. “No other political movement has faced such violent persecution,” he said. “Everything is being done to stop us from standing in the next elections.”
The party is currently polling near the top nationally.
