Prosecutors search European Parliament offices of far-right Patriots bloc in graft probe

The far-right European Parliament group of French presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen's party said Wednesday EU prosecutors were searching its offices as part of a graft probe into its now-defunct predecessor.

The Patriots for Europe group said the European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) had been searching its administrative offices in Brussels and Strasbourg “since this morning”.

“It would appear that these searches are linked to the complaint lodged against the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, which dissolved in 2024,” the group said, adding it had no “legal continuity” with ID and was not involved in the ongoing investigation.

The EPPO confirmed the searches, saying they were part of “an ongoing investigation into the use of European funds by a former political group”.

“No further details will be made public for the time being, in order not to endanger the outcome of the proceedings,” it said.

The anti-graft body has been probing an alleged misappropriation of EU funds by the ID, which brought together lawmakers from a range of far-right parties including France's National Rally (RN), Italy's League and the Alternative for Germany (AfD).

ID was formally disbanded after elections in 2024 and was succeeded by the Patriots for Europe group, now the third-largest bloc in the EU legislature.

RN's delegation head Jean-Paul Garraud said the searches targeted the offices of former ID staff members.

“While the streets of France are tipping into chaos, the authorities' priority appears to be this,” Garraud lamented on X, referring to the wave of violent protests that has swept the country.

The EU prosecutor announced formal investigations in July last year after media quoted a parliamentary report as saying ID was suspected of improperly spending €4.3 million between 2019 and 2024.

Most of this money went to an adviser of Marine Le Pen, and to his wife, according to that report.

As part of the probe, a series of raids were conducted in France and other countries in June.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)