French Financial Police Raid RN Headquarters in Campaign Finance Probe
This morning, July 9, 2025, French financial police carried out a major raid at the Paris headquarters of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), led by Jordan Bardella and formerly headed by Marine Le Pen . The operation targeted documents, emails, and accounting records linked to election campaigns dating back to 2022—spanning presidential, legislative, European, and regional contests .
🔍 What’s Under Investigation
- Illicit loans and overbilling: Prosecutors are probing whether the RN used improper loans, inflated invoices, and fake service billing to significantly boost state reimbursement claims .
- Legal limits questioned: French campaign law allows loans up to €15,000 from individuals, but only under strict non-habitual and five-year repayment rules. Officials suspect violations in scale and timing .
- Ongoing EU-level scrutiny: This raid dovetails with prior investigations into RN’s misuse of European Parliament funds and alleged €4.3 million misallocation involving its former ID bloc .
🎙 RN’s Reaction
Party president Jordan Bardella denounced the move as “spectacular and unprecedented,” framing it as politically driven harassment threatening democratic plurality. He emphasized that such raids have targeted other parties in the past—but claimed RN is facing extraordinary pressure . Meanwhile, former RN treasurer maintains there’s no wrongdoing .
⚖️ Legal Stakes and Political Impacts
- Le Pen’s legal predicament deepens: In March, Marine Le Pen received a conviction for misappropriation of EU funds, triggering a five-year office ban—a decision currently under appeal . This new probe adds further challenges to her political future.
- Impact on 2027 elections: With RN now the largest opposition party, these legal battles could impede its momentum heading into the next presidential cycle.
- Internal strain: The pressure highlights tensions between Bardella and Le Pen, as RN considers leadership succession planning around her potential ineligibility .