In recent months, several right-wing journalists and activists in France have reported the unexpected closure of their bank accounts, leading to accusations of "banking persecution." This trend has raised concerns about potential political discrimination within the financial sector.
Notably, members of the Rassemblement National (RN), a prominent right-wing political party, have been affected. Jean-Philippe Tanguy, Franck Allisio, Thomas Ménagé, and Stéphane Rambaud, all elected during the 2022 legislative elections, claim that their bank accounts were closed without prior notice or explanation. They allege that the closures were politically motivated, targeting their affiliation with the RN.
This issue is not isolated to political figures. Alice Cordier, leader of the identitarian feminist collective Némésis, has also reported multiple instances of her personal and organizational accounts being closed. Such actions have jeopardized the financial stability of organizations that rely on public donations and fundraising campaigns.
The phenomenon has been termed "banking censorship," where financial institutions are accused of denying services based on political beliefs. Critics argue that this practice undermines democratic principles by restricting the financial autonomy of certain groups. Franck Allisio, a deputy from the RN, condemned these actions as methods reminiscent of authoritarian regimes, emphasizing the threat they pose to democratic processes.
In response to these allegations, some affected parties have taken legal action. In 2017, the National Front (now RN) and its leader, Marine Le Pen, filed a lawsuit against Société Générale and HSBC for "political discrimination" after their accounts were closed. The banks cited internal policies but did not provide specific reasons for the closures.
The issue of "banking persecution" continues to evolve, with ongoing debates about the balance between financial institutions' policies and the protection of political freedoms. Observers are closely monitoring the situation to assess its impact on political expression and the operational capabilities of organizations across the political spectrum.