Raids in
Europe over alleged far-right embezzlement: EU prosecutors •
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) launched
coordinated police raids across France, Spain, Italy, and Belgium
targeting the defunct far-right political bloc Identity and Democracy (ID)
over the alleged embezzlement of €4.3 million ($5 million) in EU funds.
The continent-wide investigation focuses on suspected financial irregularities
committed between 2019 and 2024 through inflated contracts, fake assistant
jobs, and fraudulent procurement practices.
The Core
of the Investigation
- The Target: The now-disbanded Identity and
Democracy (ID) group, which previously housed high-profile Eurosceptic
parties like France's National Rally (RN), Italy's League, and the
Alternative for Germany (AfD).
- The Funds: A parliamentary audit revealed
that over €4 million was allegedly siphoned using fake contracts. A large
portion of these funds reportedly went to a close advisor of Marine Le Pen
and his spouse.
- The Scope: Raids hit both the corporate
offices and private residences of third-party communication service
providers who worked closely with the political group.
Political
Fallout for the National Rally (RN)
The timing
of the raids heavily impacts the leadership of France's National Rally as they
eye domestic electoral campaigns:
- Jordan Bardella's Response: The current RN President, who
now leads the successor group Patriots for Europe, strongly
condemned the actions. He dismissed the coordinated searches on social
media as a "harassment operation" orchestrated by the EU
administration.
- Marine Le Pen's Legal Crisis: These new raids compound
existing legal pressure on Marine Le Pen. A Paris court is set to issue a
ruling regarding separate fake-job allegations spanning 2004 to 2016. If
her five-year ban from public office is upheld, she will be legally
blocked from running in France's 2027 presidential election
.jpeg)
Sem comentários:
Enviar um comentário