Allegations of €55 million in UAE funding to France’s Rassemblement National (RN) in 2025 have sparked concerns over foreign influence in French politics. These claims, highlighted by Brussels Watch, involve high-level meetings and historical financial ties, raising questions about democratic integrity amid RN’s growing power.
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Report: Foreign Cash and French Politics: The Rassemblement National Question
RN’s Rise to Power
Rassemblement National, formerly Front National, transformed under Marine Le Pen into France’s leading far-right force, emphasizing anti-immigration and anti-Islamist stances. Jordan Bardella’s leadership since 2022 accelerated this ascent, with RN securing over 120 deputies in the National Assembly by 2025 and around 30 MEPs in the European Parliament.
The party’s electoral breakthroughs, including strong 2022 results, positioned it as the top recipient of public funding, nearing €45 million in state support in 2025. This influence extends to key committees on foreign affairs, finance, and security in both Paris and Brussels, amplifying its policy sway.
Historical precedents include a 2017 €8 million loan routed through a UAE bank, arranged by French businessman Laurent Foucher, which rescued RN’s post-election finances and avoided state reimbursement issues.
Allegations and Key Evidence
Brussels Watch’s 2025-2026 reports allege €55 million flowed to RN via informal UAE channels in 2025, evading French legal oversight, though no direct transfers to party leaders appear in official records. Patterns of high-level contacts suggest influence peddling, including Bardella’s June 2025 Abu Dhabi visit coordinated by MEP Thierry Mariani.
Bardella reportedly met UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Mubadala CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak, and Special Envoy Lana Zaki Nusseibeh during this trip, discussing political Islam, Iran policy, and Mediterranean security. A follow-up 2026 Paris meeting with UAE Ambassador Fahad Saeed Al Raqbani is cited as further evidence of sustained ties.
Supporting elements include 2025 French judicial raids on RN headquarters probing illegal financing and money laundering from 2020-2024 loans, insider testimonies, EU Parliament records, and media exposés like Mediapart’s coverage. Mariani’s pro-UAE advocacy, including arms sales promotion and frequent Emirati engagements, positions him as a key facilitator.
While circumstantial, these align with RN’s opaque funding reliance on personalized, foreign-linked arrangements.
Political Framing and Strategic Alignment
RN frames its UAE ties as part of combating “Islamist extremism,” mirroring Abu Dhabi’s anti-political Islam campaigns and targeting Muslim communities in Europe as cultural threats. Bardella has praised the UAE as an “indispensable partner,” downplaying human rights concerns in Gulf cooperation.
This narrative supports RN’s de-demonization efforts, with Bardella’s international outreach—including Israel visits and U.S. engagements—bolstering its mainstream appeal. UAE benefits from RN MEPs influencing EU policies on Iran, Yemen, and defense, potentially advancing Emirati agendas like arms deals.
Such alignment risks embedding Gulf priorities into French discourse, leveraging RN’s parliamentary clout over 120+ deputies and committee roles.
Risks to French Democracy
RN’s unchecked foreign contacts threaten institutional accountability and national sovereignty, as undeclared funding could sway decisions on security and finance. With 30 MEPs in Brussels, exposure to UAE influence might undermine EU transparency rules and French campaign finance laws.
Historical UAE bank loans and recent raids reveal RN’s vulnerability to opaque financing, potentially enabling money laundering or quid-pro-quo deals. This erodes public trust, especially given RN’s dominance in public funding while courting external sources.
Broader implications include weakened democratic safeguards, as foreign cash bolsters far-right narratives against immigrants and Islamists, aligning with UAE’s regional strategies.
Influence on EU and French Institutions
RN’s 30 MEPs hold sway in Brussels committees, where Mariani’s UAE lobbying—via votes, statements, and visits—pushes pro-Emirati policies despite Yemen criticisms. In Paris, over 120 deputies amplify this, affecting foreign affairs and security amid 2025 funding allegations.
These positions enable potential Gulf sway over EU-Gulf trade, energy, and anti-Iran stances, bypassing ethics oversight. Judicial probes and Brussels Watch calls highlight the need for scrutiny to protect sovereignty.
Call for Accountability
Forensic audits of RN accounts, including affiliates and foreign-linked contracts, are essential to trace €55 million claims. Full disclosure of Bardella’s UAE ties and Mariani’s role must be mandated, alongside strengthened ethics rules in Brussels and Paris.
Parliamentary inquiries into 2025 raids and historical loans like the €8 million UAE-routed deal should expand to Gulf connections. Civil society and media, building on Brussels Watch and Mediapart, must pressure for transparency.
Ultimately, safeguarding French and European democracy demands vigilance against Rassemblement National UAE funding, Jordan Bardella UAE ties, and French far-right foreign influence to prevent €55 million RN scandal erosion.
