Le Pen borrowed €9mn from Kremlin-linked bank

EUObserver reported in November 2014 that French far-right party Front National (FN) had borrowed €9 million from First Czech Russian Bank (FCRB), further encouraging speculation on the type of relationship the European far-right has developed with Russia.

Back in March 2014, the Russian government invited some of Europe's far-right parties to observe the referendum in Crimea (click here for more information on the subject).

FN party leader Marine Le Pen has praised Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine and has blamed the West for causing the crisis. Deutsche Welle also reported that in the European Parliament, it was not only Le Pen and members of the National Front who had advocated Putin. Leader of the British right-wing UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage, and MPs of the 'Alternative for Germany' party had also made Russia-friendly comments.

In May 2014, the Prosecutor’s Office in Hungary requested the European Parliament to waiver the immunity of far-right Hungarian MEP Bela Kovacs amid allegations he was working for Russia.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: 'A Partner for Russia': Europe's Far Right Flirts with Moscow http://www.europeansources.info/record/a-partner-for-russia-europes-far-right-flirts-with-moscow/

ESO: Background information: Jobbik MEP accused of working for Russia http://www.europeansources.info/record/jobbik-mep-accused-of-working-for-russia/

France24, 23.11.14: France’s cash-strapped far right turns to Russian lender http://www.france24.com/en/20141123-france-far-right-turns-russian-lender-national-front-marine-le-pen/

The Local.fr, 24.11.14: Le Pen forced to justify €9m loan from Russia http://www.thelocal.fr/20141124/frances-far-right-turns-to-russia-for-9-million-loan

EUObserver, 26.11.14: Reports multiply of Kremlin links to anti-EU parties http://euobserver.com/foreign/126676

EUObserver, 27.11.14: Mediapart: National Front's Kremlin loan is worth €40mn http://euobserver.com/foreign/126693

Deutsche Welle, 29.11.14: Is the Kremlin financing Europe's right-wing populists? http://dw.de/p/1DwzI

Political Capital Institute: Analysis: The Russian Connection: The spread of pro-Russian policies on the European far right, March 2014 http://www.riskandforecast.com/post/in-depth-analysis/the-russian-connection_803.html

EUObserver, 01.12.14: Mediapart: Former Russian spy lent €2mn to Le Pen senior http://euobserver.com/foreign/126731

The Guardian, 27.11.14: Russia exerts influence in France with tree diplomacy – and loans to Le Pen http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/27/russia-exerts-influence-france-with-tree-diplomacy-loans-le-pen

EurActiv, 05.12.14: National Front's Russian loans cause uproar in European Parliament http://www.euractiv.com/sections/europes-east/national-fronts-russian-loans-cause-uproar-european-parliament-310599

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