The French prosecutor’s office has opened an inquiry into Marine Le Pen’s party amid allegations of misused funds from the European Parliament. An OLAF report circulated in early March accuses the National Rally (RN, formerly the National Front until 2018) of diverting sizable sums from European Parliament subsidies. The digital outlet Mediapart first disclosed these details, throwing another political hurdle at the far-right candidate as she advances toward the runoff against President Emmanuel Macron on April 24.
The prosecution is examining the OLAF document, which alleges embezzlement linked to Le Pen during her time as a member of the European Parliament from 2004 to 2017, totaling 137,000 euros. The report also implicates her father, Jean-Marie Le Pen, founder of the party, noting that in 2012 about 303,000 euros from European parliamentary funding were used for personal or partisan purposes by the party. The dossier accuses senior MEPs of overbilling, using continental subsidies to support party activities, channeling funds through fictitious orders to satellite companies, or paying for goods in European currency for personal use, including wine and champagne purchases connected to Jean-Marie Le Pen and Marie Le Pen. The report mentions a New Year’s Eve celebration at a Paris mansion in 2016, tied to luxury brands. Rodolphe Bosselut, the ultraright candidate’s lawyer, dismissed the timing of the disclosure as coincidental with the runoff campaign. (Mediapart)
Macron’s campaign leadership has slightly expanded its advantage, with public opinion testing the magnitude of the embezzlement allegations. This is not the first time Le Pen has faced scrutiny over European funds. In 2018 she was accused of diverting around 300,000 euros by allegedly using parliamentary assistants for partisan tasks within the European Parliament. While corruption investigations can affect political narratives, Le Pen has continued to perform strongly at the polls, securing second place in the first round with more than 23 percent of the vote.
Recent polling suggests Macron would win the second round with around 55 percent, while Le Pen would receive about 45 percent, though the gap has grown tighter since 2017 when Macron captured roughly two-thirds of the vote. The campaign has repeatedly focused on the duel between the two finalists, with Le Pen serving as a lightning rod for debate. The French press has highlighted questions about the constitutionality of some key proposals, such as a policy that would restrict foreign access to welfare benefits. A later proposal to limit the public display of Islamic symbols also drew sharp critique from party opponents elsewhere in French politics. (Editorial notes)
A left-wing counterweight in play
Le Pen’s messaging, seen by some as an attempt to calm fears, positions the runoff as a binary choice against the centrist candidate. At a rally in Avignon, a cabinet figure suggested that Macron’s stance could pose risks to the country, echoing concerns raised by political scientists about the electorate’s mood. Observers note that many voters from the left could influence the outcome, including those who identify as Mélenchon supporters, who hover around the high teens in recent surveys.
After extensive media commentary about the embezzlement topic, France’s political landscape now resembles a three-block spectrum: a liberal center, a nationalist far right, and a socio-ecological left. This division may shape turnout and preferences in a way that is less predictable than in years past. It is not the first time a far-right candidate has reached the runoff, but the social and political climate appears more fragmented than in earlier cycles.
Estimates of turnout show a decline in some protests against the far right, with demonstrations organized by unions and progressive groups in multiple cities. The observed fatigue among segments of the electorate may influence the final vote as June approaches.