EU financial prosecutors have opened a formal investigation into alleged misuse of 4.3 million euros of European Parliament funds by Identity and Democracy – a now-defunct far-right group that included Marine Le Pen's National Rally party.
Media outlets in several countries reported last week that a draft audit by the European Parliament had found that parties linked to the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group had performed improper procurement procedures and had given donations to non-parliamentary activities.
The report said ID was suspected of improperly spending 4.3 million euros between 2019 and 2024.
The ID group contained MEPs from a range of eurosceptic parties including the National Rally of Marine Le Pen – the longtime standard bearer of the French far right – Italy's League and the Alternative for Germany.
According to the reports by a consortium of European media, the bulk of the allegedly misused funds benefited companies belonging to Frédéric Chatillon, a former advisor to Le Pen, and his wife Sighild Blanc.
"The European Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation," a spokesperson for the agency, which probes financial crimes against the bloc, said.
The European Parliament said it "takes note of the decision" by the prosecutors to open the probe, first reported by Euractiv on Tuesday.
"As always, parliament cooperates fully with national or European authorities if requested so," the parliament said.
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Fake jobs scam
The Identity and Democracy grouping was unveiled by French politician Le Pen in 2019, uniting eurosceptics from across the continent who aimed to devolve power from Brussels back to capitals. It was formally disbanded after elections last year and was succeeded by a new grouping Patriots for Europe.
Jordan Bardella, who now heads the Patriots group, said the probe represented a "new harassment operation by the European Parliament".
The EU investigation comes after Le Pen suffered a blow in March when a French court convicted her and other party officials over an EU parliament fake jobs scam.
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The ruling, which Le Pen has appealed, banned her from standing for office for five years, effectively ruling her out of running in the 2027 presidential vote.
(with newswires)
