The headquarters of the French right-wing National Rally party were searched on Wednesday morning in Paris, which its leader described as a “spectacular and unprecedented” act of harassment.
“Since 8:50 this morning, the National Rally headquarters — including the offices of its leaders — have been searched by approximately twenty police officers from the Financial Brigade, who were armed and wearing bulletproof vests, accompanied by two investigating judges,” stated National Rally President Jordan Bardella.
He further commented, “This spectacular and unprecedented action clearly represents a new harassment effort. It constitutes a serious threat to pluralism and democratic change. Never before has an opposition party in the Fifth Republic faced such relentless attacks.”
Prosecutors said they are investigating allegations of illegal financing of longtime party leader Marine Le Pen’s 2022 presidential bid, and the party’s European Parliament and French parliamentary campaigns, according to the Associated Press.
A police officer leaves the National Rally headquarters in Paris, France, following the police raids on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (AP/Michel Euler)
The inquiry is also investigating allegations that the National Rally overbilled for services or billed for fictitious services in order to artificially augment the amount of state aid provided to the party for its electoral campaigns.
Authorities raided the National Party’s headquarters after Le Pen — runner-up to incumbent President Emmanuel Macron in 2022 — was convicted of embezzlement in April. She and 24 other party officials were accused of having used money intended for European Union parliamentary aides to instead pay staff who worked for the party between 2004 and 2016, violating the 27-nation bloc’s regulations.
National Rally member of parliament Laurent Jacobelli answers reporters as French police raided the headquarters of the far-right party, seizing documents and accounting records, the party’s leader said on Wednesday, July 9, 2025 in Paris. (AP/Michel Euler)
The prosecutor’s office said no one has been charged in the latest case, with former party treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just telling reporters outside the headquarters “We did nothing wrong.″
