French opposition targeted in ‘lawfare’ police raids – presidential hopeful

The Euroskeptic and anti-immigration politician is widely seen as the RN’s likely candidate to replace political heavyweight and long-time leader Marine Le Pen, who was barred from holding public office for five years after being convicted last March of allegedly misusing EU funds.

“Since early this morning, searches have been underway at the offices and private homes of communications service providers who have worked with us,” Bardella wrote on X on Tuesday, referring to media reports of a looming legal investigation into him over a job he held in the European Parliament “nearly 12 years ago.”

“As always, judicial proceedings herald the electoral calendar. We have nothing to reproach ourselves for, and we will demonstrate it,” he added.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office is carrying out searches in France and other EU nations in relation to a probe into the suspected misuse of EU funds by the now-defunct Identity and Democracy group of MEPs, of which Bardella was a member, multiple outlets reported on Tuesday. Le Monde reported that coordinated raids were conducted across France, Spain, Italy, and Belgium as part of the investigation.

The group comprised lawmakers from several Euroskeptic parties, including the RN, Italy’s right-wing League party, the Freedom Party of Austria (FPO), and the Alternative for Germany (AfD), but fell apart shortly before the June 2024 EU elections.

The investigation comes amid a surge in popularity for anti-establishment parties pursuing national interests across the bloc, as well as what these parties have described as a broader legal crackdown by Brussels on right-wing opposition groups.

Le Pen was considered the frontrunner for the 2027 French election when her conviction derailed her campaign. She has denied wrongdoing and called the case politically motivated, with a court expected to rule on her appeal and political future this summer.

In Germany, the AfD has regularly polled ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union after finishing second nationally with 20.8% of the vote in the 2025 federal election. However, the party has been stonewalled from coalition talks and government formation by an informal boycott from other parties.

Germany’s domestic intelligence agency classified the AfD as a ‘right-wing extremist’ party in 2025. While a federal court temporarily blocked the agency from using the label, the Bavarian Administrative Court of Appeal recently rejected the party’s challenge.

In Austria, the FPO achieved a historic victory in the 2024 election with over 30% support, fueled by voter frustration, but was subsequently blocked from forming a government by a mainstream coalition aimed at isolating the party.