Investigators scrutinized the headquarters of Le Pen's political party.
In a significant development on July 9, 2025, French police conducted a raid on the headquarters of the Rassemblement National (RN) party in Paris, as part of an ongoing judicial investigation into suspected illegal campaign financing[1][2][3].
The investigation, initiated on July 3, 2024, focuses on several key allegations, including potential illegal loans from wealthy individuals to the party or its candidates, and the submission of inflated invoices to artificially increase the amount reimbursed by the state for campaign expenses[1][2].
The probe, led by the Paris prosecutor's office, also involves the examination of inflated invoices for services or invoices for fictitious services, encompassing the entire electoral activity of the party[1]. In addition to the RN headquarters, police also searched the homes and offices of several individuals and companies suspected of involvement in overbilling or promoting these questionable financial practices during RN campaigns[1][2].
Notably, the home of Axel Loustau, a former associate of Marine Le Pen and shareholder in one of RN’s main service providers, was also searched. Loustau has ties to far-right groups and companies linked to the RN[1].
This raid comes amid escalating legal troubles for Marine Le Pen and her party. In April 2025, Le Pen was convicted of embezzlement of public funds related to a fake jobs scandal at the European Parliament, a ruling she is appealing[4]. Furthermore, the European Public Prosecutor's Office has opened a separate investigation into alleged misuse of European Parliament funds by a defunct far-right group that included the RN, involving millions of euros diverted to companies tied to a former Le Pen advisor and his wife[1][4].
In response to the raids, the RN claimed they are being targeted unfairly to prevent the party from gaining power, echoing past statements following similar investigations in 2016 and 2017[1].
The ongoing investigation into the Rassemblement National's funding is still in progress, with all files relating to the last regional, presidential, parliamentary, and European election campaigns of the RN now in the hands of the judiciary[1][2][3].
References: [1] Le Monde, "Police search RN headquarters as part of campaign finance probe," July 9, 2025. [2] France 24, "French police raid RN headquarters over campaign finance allegations," July 9, 2025. [3] Libération, "Police search RN headquarters in connection with campaign finance investigation," July 9, 2025. [4] Europe1, "Marine Le Pen convicted of embezzlement of public funds," April 14, 2025.
The ongoing investigation, led by the Paris prosecutor's office, encompasses allegations of illegal loans from wealthy individuals to the Rassemblement National (RN) party or its candidates, as well as the submission of inflated invoices to artificially increase the amount reimbursed by the state for campaign expenses. The probe also involves accusations of overbilling and questionable financial practices, extending to the electoral activity of the RN and companies linked to its associates.
