The headquarters of Marine Le Pen's party, the far-right National Rally, has been raided by police officers, its president, Jordan Bardella, said. Taking to X on Wednesday, the French politician said: "Since 8:50 this morning [7.50am BST], the headquarters of the National Rally - including the offices of its leaders - have been subject to a search conducted by about twenty financial brigade police officers, armed and wearing bulletproof vests, accompanied by two investigating judges."

He went on to claim: "All emails, documents, and accounting records of the leading opposition party are being seized, without us knowing at this stage the precise grievances that form the basis for this action.

"We only know that all the files concerning the latest regional, presidential, legislative, and European campaigns - in other words, the entire electoral activity of the party - are now in the hands of the judiciary.

"This operation, spectacular and unprecedented, is clearly part of a new harassment campaign. It is a serious attack on pluralism and democratic alternation. Never has an opposition party faced such relentless targeting under the Fifth Republic."

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