EU prosecutors raid offices of far-right Patriots group at European Parliament in Strasbourg

Search targets former Identity and Democracy group over suspected misuse of 4.3 million euros in EU funds

By LineZotpaper

Published21 October 2026

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European Public Prosecutor’s Office agents conducted searches on Wednesday morning at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, targeting the offices of the far-right Patriots group and its predecessor, the Identity and Democracy (ID) group, as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in the use of EU funds.

The searches focused on the secretariat offices of the Patriots group, according to two anonymous officials familiar with the inquiry. The investigation stems from a 2025 finding by Parliament’s financial service that ID spent 4.3 million euros between 2019 and 2024 on irregular donations and procurement contracts.

The European Public Prosecutor’s Office, which investigates financial crimes harming the EU budget, opened the case based on Parliament’s reports. Jean-Paul Garraud, head of the French National Rally delegation to the European Parliament, said on X that searches were under way targeting the offices of collaborators of the former ID group.

ID was dissolved in 2024, and many of its members, including lawmakers from France’s National Rally, Austria’s Freedom Party, Hungary’s Fidesz, Belgium’s Vlaams Belang, Czechia’s ANO 2011 and Spain’s Vox, joined the Patriots group. The Patriots issued a statement insisting there is “no legal continuity” with ID and that they “are not targeted” by the searches.

The investigation concerns whether ID made irregular donations to regional organisations in several EU countries and breached procurement rules in contracts awarded to companies close to the group. In 2025, the financial service ordered the Patriots to repay 276,967 euros in EU funds it said were improperly spent during the second half of 2024 under similar irregular tender procedures.

A European Parliament spokesperson said in a text message that the Parliament cooperates with authorities as always and had no further comment.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The investigation targets potential misuse of EU taxpayer money by a far-right political group that has since re-formed under a new name, raising questions about accountability and legal continuity.
The outcome could affect EU funding rules and the financial reporting obligations of political groups, and may have political repercussions for the Patriots group and its member parties ahead of the next European elections.

Background

The European Parliament allocates annual budgets to political groups to cover administrative and operational costs. In 2025, Parliament’s financial service flagged that the Identity and Democracy group had spent 4.3 million euros irregularly between 2019 and 2024, prompting a referral to the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. ID dissolved in 2024, and most of its members joined the Patriots group, which now denies any legal link to the earlier formation.

Key Perspectives

European Public Prosecutor’s Office: Investigates whether ID violated EU financial rules through irregular donations and procurement contracts. Patriots group: Insists there is no legal continuity with ID and that it is not the target of the searches, pointing to its statement disclaiming responsibility. European Parliament: Cooperates with investigators; a spokesperson said Parliament provides all requested assistance but declined further comment. Critics: May argue that the Patriots group is effectively the same entity as ID and should be held accountable for the alleged irregularities, though the source does not report such a view.

What to Watch

Whether the judicial investigation leads to charges against former ID members or officials.
Any further restitution orders from Parliament’s financial service to the Patriots group.
Political fallout within the Patriots group and among its member parties as the inquiry proceeds.

Sources

Perquisitions au Parlement européen dans une enquête visant l’ancien groupe du RN · Politico Europe

Checked

11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

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SupportedEU prosecutors raided the offices of the far-right Patriots group at the European Parliament in Strasbourg.Politico Europe: “Des agents sous l’autorité du Parquet européen ont procédé mercredi matin à une perquisition dans les bureaux des équipes du groupe d’extrême droite des Patriotes au Parlement européen.”
Partly supportedThe search targeted the former ID group over suspected misuse of 4.3 million euros in EU funds.Politico Europe: “Ces perquisitions s’inscrivent dans le cadre d’une enquête portant sur des soupçons d’irrégularités dans l’utilisation de fonds européens et visant l’ancien groupe Identité et démocratie (ID). En 2025, le service financier du Parlement a constaté que ce dernier avait dépensé 4,3 millions d’euros entre 2019 et 2024 en dons et appels d’offres irréguliers.”
Partly supportedThe searches targeted offices of both the Patriots group and its predecessor, ID.Politico Europe: “Des agents sous l’autorité du Parquet européen ont procédé mercredi matin à une perquisition dans les bureaux des équipes du groupe d’extrême droite des Patriotes au Parlement européen. Ces perquisitions s’inscrivent dans le cadre d’une enquête ... visant l’ancien groupe Identité et démocratie (ID).”
Not in the sourcesThe Patriots said there was “no legal continuity” with ID and that they “are not targeted” by the searches.Politico Europe: “Dans un communiqué, les Patriotes insistent sur le fait qu’il n’existe “aucune continuité juridique” avec le groupe ID, et qu’ils “ne sont pas visés” par les perquisitions.”
SupportedJean-Paul Garraud said on X that searches were underway at offices of collaborators of the former ID group.Politico Europe: ““Depuis ce matin, des perquisitions sont en cours au sein du Parlement européen à Strasbourg, où nous nous trouvons, visant les bureaux des collaborateurs de l’ancien groupe Identité et démocratie”, a relaté sur X Jean-Paul Garraud”
SupportedParliament’s financial service found in 2025 that ID spent 4.3 million euros between 2019 and 2024 on irregular donations and procurement contracts.Politico Europe: “En 2025, le service financier du Parlement a constaté que ce dernier avait dépensé 4,3 millions d’euros entre 2019 et 2024 en dons et appels d’offres irréguliers.”
SupportedThe European Public Prosecutor’s Office opened the case based on Parliament’s reports.Politico Europe: “Le Parquet européen, chargé d’enquêter sur les infractions financières portant atteinte au budget de l’Union européenne, a ouvert une enquête sur la base des rapports du Parlement.”
SupportedID was dissolved in 2024, and many members joined the Patriots, including lawmakers from the named parties and countries.Politico Europe: “Lorsqu’ID a été dissous en 2024, bon nombre de ses membres ont rejoint les Patriotes, notamment des élus du Rassemblement national, du Parti de la liberté d’Autriche (FPÖ), du Fidesz hongrois, du Vlaams Belang (Intérêt flamand) belge, de l’ANO 2011 tchèque et du parti espagnol Vox.”
SupportedThe investigation concerns possible irregular donations by ID to regional organisations and possible procurement-rule breaches involving contracts awarded to companies close to the group.Politico Europe: “Le Parquet européen enquête pour déterminer si le groupe ID a versé des dons irréguliers à des organisations régionales dans plusieurs pays de l’Union européenne, et s’il a enfreint les règles relatives aux appels d’offres dans le cadre de contrats attribués à des entreprises proches du groupe.”
Partly supportedIn 2025, the financial service ordered the Patriots to repay 276,967 euros for funds it said were improperly spent in the second half of 2024 under similar irregular tender procedures.Politico Europe: “En 2025, le service financier a ordonné aux Patriotes de restituer 276 967 euros de fonds européens qui, selon lui, auraient été indûment dépensés au cours du second semestre 2024, dans le cadre de procédures d’appel d’offres irrégulières similaires.”
Partly supportedA Parliament spokesperson said by text message that Parliament cooperates with authorities as always and had no further comment.Politico Europe: ““Comme toujours lorsqu’on le lui demande, le Parlement coopère avec les autorités compétentes. Nous n’avons pas d’autres commentaires à faire”, a déclaré un porte-parole du Parlement européen dans un SMS.”