EU Fraud Investigators Target Jordan Bardella and National Rally Over Alleged Misuse of EU Parliamentary Funds for 2027 Presidential Preparation

European prosecutors have opened a formal investigation into France's National Rally party and its president, Jordan Bardella, over allegations that EU parliamentary funds were misused to prepare Bardella for France's 2027 presidential election rather than serving their intended purpose. The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) is examining claims that money allocated for media training was redirected to benefit Bardella's political ambitions as party leader, instead of supporting his work as a Member of the European Parliament. The case adds a layer of legal scrutiny to a party that has surged in recent polls, intensifying pressure ahead of France's next major electoral cycle.

At the center of the probe is a complaint filed in December by the anti-corruption association AC!! with the National Financial Prosecutor's Office in Paris. The allegations contend that National Rally directed funds designated for media training toward preparing Bardella specifically for a presidential bid, rather than for legitimate parliamentary activities. Several other party members have also been implicated in the investigation. National Rally has contested the claims, and the party's legal team is expected to challenge the basis of the complaint. However, the involvement of EU funds has brought the matter under the jurisdiction of Brussels-based prosecutors, expanding the scope beyond French national authorities.

The investigation places Bardella and his party at a critical juncture, as National Rally continues to consolidate support in French public opinion. The timing of the probe—amid rising poll numbers for the anti-migration party—underscores the potential political stakes involved. Whether the investigation yields formal charges or legal consequences remains uncertain, but the scrutiny from both Paris and Brussels signals that the party's rapid ascent is drawing institutional attention at the highest levels of European governance. The case is likely to feature prominently in French political discourse as the 2027 presidential election approaches.