A special investigation by the French parliament, the results of which have not yet been officially released, has found close ties between the extreme right-wing forces in the country and the Russian Federation.

This was reported by Euractiv, according to Yevropeiska Pravda.

This is a document prepared by the committee to investigate foreign interference in the political, economic and military life of France. The investigation was initiated in September 2022 by Le Pen’s National Rally party, but the political party itself has been the focus of the committee’s attention, as it is often accused of having ties to Russia.

Euractiv has learned from sources familiar with the document that the report points to ties between Russia and the National Rally (formerly the National Front) and that the party is acting “in full accord with Russian rhetoric,” and this was only further confirmed at the committee’s hearing.

The rapporteur on the report, a representative of Macron’s party, Constance Legrip, noted that this included Le Pen’s statements on the occupation of Crimea: the politician considers the peninsula “Russian” and considers the referendum on its accession to the Russian Federation to be a free expression of will.

The report also mentioned the trips of the party’s representatives to Crimea and the occupied territories of eastern Ukraine, in particular MEPs Thierry Mariani and Philippe Olivier.

The report also noted that Russian propaganda outlets immediately pick up statements by Le Pen and her party that are favorable to Russia.

At the same time, they recognize that with the outbreak of full-scale war, the position of the National Rally and Le Pen herself has become much less pro-Russian.

During the meeting of the investigative committee, the question was raised as to whether the party’s position could have been affected by a loan of 9 million euros on favorable terms that the then National Front took out from a Russian bank in 2014. Le Pen denies this.

The report notes that this looks suspicious in a situation where the political party has consistently demonstrated its commitment to Russia and its position on a wide range of issues is very close to Moscow’s.

After the information was leaked to the press, Le Pen said that they had been subjected to a “politicized trial” and that the report was unfair and biased.