European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) investigators conducted raids at the European Parliament offices of the far-right 'Patriots for Europe' (PfE) political group in Brussels and Strasbourg on October 21, 2026, in connection with an ongoing probe into the alleged misuse of approximately €4.3 million ($5 million) in public funds by the group's predecessor. The searches primarily target the now-defunct Identity and Democracy (ID) group, which PfE insists it has no legal continuity with.

This investigation involves significant public funds allocated to political groups, raising questions about accountability and oversight within European institutions. Allegations of misuse by far-right groups have led to calls for stricter scrutiny from anti-corruption watchdogs and other political figures.

What the records show

The EPPO's investigation, which formally began in July 2025, centers on allegations that the ID group misappropriated about €4.3 million ($5 million) in EU funds between 2019 and 2024. These funds were reportedly spent on fictitious contracts, irregular tenders, and directed towards associations linked to far-right figures. Reports indicate that a significant portion of this money allegedly went to an advisor to Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Rally, and the advisor's spouse.

This is not the only financial scrutiny facing the far-right bloc. A financial audit in June 2026 reportedly found that the 'Patriots for Europe' group itself misspent almost €280,000 (over €270,000) in 2024. This alleged misuse included donations to non-EU-level organizations and breaches of procurement rules, with contracts awarded to companies linked to their national party members. Following this, Transparency International EU (TI EU) submitted a complaint to the EPPO in July 2026, urging an investigation into the €276,000 alleged misuse by the PfE. Nick Aiossa, Director at Transparency International EU, stated in July 2026 that the repeated misuse of EU taxpayer money by far-right political groups is unacceptable.

The timeline

In March 2024, Marine Le Pen was found guilty by a French court for misusing EU funds related to fake parliamentary jobs during her time as a Member of the European Parliament. The Identity and Democracy group ceased to exist in July 2024. The European Public Prosecutor's Office formally opened its investigation into the ID group's alleged misuse of funds in July 2025. In June 2026, a financial audit reportedly identified that the successor 'Patriots for Europe' group had misspent nearly €280,000 in 2024. Transparency International EU subsequently lodged a complaint with the EPPO in July 2026 regarding these findings. On October 21, 2026, EPPO conducted raids at the 'Patriots for Europe' offices in Brussels and Strasbourg.

What the group says

The 'Patriots for Europe' group publicly announced the raids on its X account, stating that the searches were linked to the complaint lodged against the Identity and Democracy group. The PfE group maintains it has "no legal continuity" with the ID group and is therefore "not involved in the ongoing investigation" concerning its predecessor. Jean-Paul Garraud, an MEP and head of the National Rally delegation, confirmed on X that the searches specifically targeted "the offices of former ID staff members". Garraud expressed frustration, suggesting that authorities were prioritizing this investigation amidst domestic unrest in France. The EPPO confirmed the searches as part of "an ongoing investigation into the use of European funds by a former political group," but declined to provide further details.

What we could not confirm

PrimaryBrief could not confirm the specific individuals whose offices were searched during the raids beyond the general reference to "former ID staff members". The exact destination of all allegedly misspent funds from the ID group, beyond reports mentioning an advisor to Marine Le Pen and their spouse, remains unconfirmed. No specific charges against individuals have been publicly announced by the EPPO.