Prosecutors search far-right group's offices in European Parliament in probe into mismanaged EU funds
Officials acting on behalf of the European Public Prosecutor's Office have searched the offices of staff of the far-right Patriots group in the European Parliament. The searches were carried out on Wednesday morning at the Parliament in Strasbourg, France.
The searches are part of an investigation into allegations that the now-defunct Identity and Democracy (ID) group mismanaged European Union funds.
In 2025, the Parliament's finance department found that ID misspent €4.3 million between 2019 and 2024 in irregular donations and public tenders. The EPPO, which investigates financial crimes involving the EU budget, opened its probe based on the Parliament's reports.
'Since this morning, searches have been underway at the European Parliament in Strasbourg — where we are currently located — targeting the offices of staff members of the former Identity and Democracy Group,' said Jean-Paul Garraud, France's National Rally chief in the Parliament.
The searches took place at the group's secretariat offices, according to two officials who were granted anonymity to speak about the ongoing investigation.
When ID dissolved in 2024, many of its staff moved to the Patriots, including lawmakers from France's National Rally, Austria's Freedom Party, Hungary's Fidesz, Spain's Vox, Belgium's Flemish Interest and Czechia's ANO 2011.
In a statement, the Patriots group insisted that 'there is no legal continuity with the ID Group' and that 'it is not involved in the ongoing investigations.'
The allegations of mismanagement relate to the budget allocated annually by the Parliament for political groups to spend on administrative and operative costs. The EPPO is probing whether ID made irregular donations to regional organisations in several EU countries, and whether the group breached tender rules in contracts awarded to companies friendly to the group.
In 2025, the finance department ordered the Patriots to give back €276,967 in EU funds it says the group misused during the second half of 2024, related to similar irregular tender procedures.
'As always when requested Parliament cooperates with relevant authorities — we don't have additional comment,' a Parliament spokesperson said in a text message.
The development has created fresh discomfort in the European Parliament's far-right camp. Although the Patriots, seen as ID's successor, claim a separate identity, the continuity of staff and politics means the shadow of the investigation falls on them as well. Once the EPPO probe is complete, it will become clear what legal steps, if any, follow against those responsible.
