EU probes far-right political group over alleged misuse of funds

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00:00In other news, it comes just months after Marine Le Pen suffered a stunning blow when French

00:05court convicted the far-right leader and other officials over a fake job scam. In a fresh

00:10setback for her party, the EU's prosecutor says a formal investigation has begun into a defunct

00:16far-right group which included the national rally over the alleged misuse of European Parliament

00:22funds. James Vazina has the details.

00:25It's the latest legal worry to hit France's main far-right party, and they aren't alone.

00:34The now defunct Identity and Democracy group, which disbanded last year, regrouped in the

00:40European Parliament far-right parties from across the continent, such as France's national

00:44rally, Italy's league and Germany's AFD parties. But the bulk of the 4.3 million euros that are

00:53believed to have been misused are thought to have benefited two companies belonging to

00:57a former adviser to Marine Le Pen, who used to lead the French party.

01:03The current president of the national rally, Jordan Bardella, dismissed the accusations from

01:08the European Public Prosecutor's Office.

01:11What I see here is a new harassment campaign coming from the administration of the European

01:18Parliament, which, in a very worrying way, decided to spread internal communications while

01:24a case is ongoing. I don't think anybody can be fooled by the kind of operation this is.

01:29The investigation indeed comes after several media outlets gained access to a financial

01:38report that made the claims against the former parliamentary group. The accounts came from

01:43the department that oversees finances within the EU Parliament.

01:49In March, Marine Le Pen was convicted, together with other party officials, of running a fake

01:55job scam in the EU Parliament. She's appealing the ruling but, for now, has been banned from

02:01holding office for five years, which would include taking part in France's next general election.

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