They're also all Eurosceptic.

Marine Le Pen has admitted that her far-right Front National accepted money from a Russian bank, amid growing evidence that the Kremlin is backing anti-European parties across the continent.

Le Pen said that her party had received a loan of €9 million (£7 million) in September from the Russian-owned First Czech-Russian Bank, but insisted that the money would have no impact on her policies.

“We signed with the First [bank] who agreed and we’re very happy about it,” she said. But it is “ridiculous to suggest that gaining a loan would determine our international position,” she insisted. “These insinuations are outrageous and offensive.”

According to recent opinion polls, the National Front is now France’s most popular party.

Russian loans have also been extended to Greece’s neofascist Golden Dawn party, Belgium’s Vlaams Belang, Italy’s Northern League, Hungary’s Jobbik and the Freedom Party of Austria, The Times reports. All of these parties except Golden Dawn were invited to observe Crimea's vote on joining Russia and all offered their support for the annexation of the south-eastern Ukrainian region.

The loans to the National Front from the Russian-owned bank occurred amid "growing evidence of a secret Kremlin campaign to buy influence in European politics," The Times says.

French politician Bruno Le Maire, a former cabinet minister who is running for the leadership of the centre-right Union for a Popular Movement, said that it was inconceivable that the loans would have no impact on Le Pen's attitude to Russia: “You are always under obligation to your creditor,” he said.

France’s National Front has "long struggled to raise the cash needed to match its political ambitions," France 24 reports. The party's treasurer Wallerand de Saint-Just said that the loans would be used to finance campaigning expenses in the lead up to the French national elections in 2017, for which the party would need approximately "30 to 40 million euros".

Last month, Vincent Jauvert claimed in the French weekly magazine Le Nouvel Observateur that National Front leaders had been in regular communication with the Russian ambassador in Paris, Alexander Orlov.

"The Kremlin has been betting on the National Front," Jauvert said. "It considers the party able to take power in France and potentially reverse the course of European history in favour of Moscow".

Jesus fucking Christ.

HOLY SHIT, POWERFUL NATIONS ENGAGE IN MANIPULATION AND SUBTERFUGE?

NO FUCKING WAY

THIS TOTALLY BLOWS MY MIND

THIS IS LIKE

SO FUCKING NEW

Quote from: Lemy the Lizerd on November 25, 2014, 12:53:13 PM

THIS TOTALLY BLOWS MY MIND

Don't mistake resigned discontent for surprise.

This is really bad. Pretty much damning for anti-EU politicians.

Truth be told, though, the US is probably doing the same thing throughout Europe. And probably with more money.

Quote from: Lemy the Lizerd on November 25, 2014, 12:58:06 PM

Truth be told, though, the US is probably doing the same thing throughout Europe.

I thought the U.S. quite openly supported the E.U.?

If there's any substantial funding going on, the Liberal Democrats should be the most popular party in my country >.>

Not against EU.

What I'm saying is the US funds parties whose agendas support it's interests, regardless of whether they are in the best interest of the people. Been doing so since the cold war.

It's no secret that it is the American government that really runs the show in Europe.