The public prosecutor's office in Paris has launched an investigation into Marine Le Pen's presidential campaign in 2022 following suspicions of illegal financing, according to several media outlets.
The investigation will examine allegations of embezzlement, forgery, and fraud, as well as a candidate in an election campaign accepting a loan, according to the public prosecutor's office in Paris. The public prosecutor's office did not elaborate on the allegations.
During each election, it is prohibited for candidates to exceed a spending limit. With supporting invoices, a national commission responsible for reviewing campaign finances therefore examines each candidate's campaign accounts.
Le Pen, who then led the far-right party National Rally (RN), had invested approximately 11.5 million euros, equivalent to over 130 million Swedish kronor, in her third attempt to become president in 2022.
In December 2022, the commission had objections to expenses related to campaign materials and described it as "irregular".
