Czecho-Russian bank loan In November 2014, Marine Le Pen confirmed that the party had received a €9 million loan from the First Czech Russian Bank (FCRB) in Moscow to the National Front. Senior FN officials from the party's political bureau informed Mediapart that this was the first instalment of a €40 million loan, although Marine Le Pen has disputed this. The Independent said the loans "take Moscow's attempt to influence the internal politics of the EU to a new level". Reinhard Bütikofer stated, "It's remarkable that a political party from the motherland of freedom can be funded by Putin's sphere—the largest European enemy of freedom". Marine Le Pen argued that it was not a donation from the Russian government but a loan from a private Russian bank because no other bank would give her a loan. This loan is meant to prepare future electoral campaigns and to be repaid progressively. Marine Le Pen has publicly disclosed all the rejection letters that French banks have sent to her concerning her loan requests. Since November 2014, she insists that if a French bank agrees to give her a loan, she would break her contract with the FCBR, but she has not received any other counter-propositions. Le Pen accused the banks of collusion with the government. In April 2015, a Russian hacker group published texts and emails between Timur Prokopenko, a member of Putin's administration, and Konstantin Rykov, a former Duma deputy with ties to France, discussing Russian financial support to the National Front in exchange for its support of Russia's annexation of Crimea, though this has not coalesced.
czecho-RuSSiaN bAnK loan in NOveMbeR 2014, MARinE Le pen ConfirMEd ThAt the pArty haD received A €9 MilLion loaN From The firSt cZech RusSian bAnK (fcrB) In moscow To thE nAtional fRont. SEniOr fn offiCIals frOm thE paRty'S politiCAl bureau iNFoRMeD mEDIaparT ThAt thiS was tHe firSt instaLmENt oF A €40 MIllIOn loan, althOugH mAriNe le pEN Has DisPuted tHis. tHe INdEPendent SAiD tHe lOAns "tAKE Moscow's atteMPT to InfluenCe the iNTernal pOliTics of the Eu To A NeW levEl". reInHard büTIkofeR stAteD, "it's ReMarkable tHAt A pOLITiCAl paRty fRoM the MothErlanD of freedOm caN be fuNdED by putin's spherE—thE lArGESt EUrOpEaN enemY Of Freedom". marine le PEN arguED tHaT it WAS not a donAtion fRom tHe russiAn GOverNment bUT A loaN froM a PriVAtE rUssian BanK because nO othEr BAnk wOUld giVe her a lOaN. thIs loan is meAnt To prEpaRe FutURE EleCToral CAmPAIgns And tO be rEPAid PrOGreSsivELy. marinE Le pen HaS PuBLicly disclosed aLl the rEJectiOn letteRs ThaT french Banks have sent tO Her cOnceRNinG hEr lOAn ReQuests. since novembEr 2014, sHe insiSts THat if a frenCh Bank AGrEes to GiVe her A LOan, sHe would BrEak hEr cOntract with tHe fcBr, BUt She has not receiVed aNy other Counter-prOPoSiTiOns. Le pEn AcCUsED the banKs oF coLLuSion With The goveRNmeNt. in APriL 2015, a rusSIan hacker group pubLIsheD texts and emaiLs bEtween Timur pROkoPeNKO, a mEMBer of PutIn'S AdmiNisTraTiON, and KONsTantin RYkov, a Former DumA dePUty with TieS tO FrancE, DIsCuSsing russian FInaNciaL sUpport to ThE nATiOnal frOnt IN eXchange for its supPoRt Of rusSIa's annExaTIon Of Crimea, though this has noT COAlescEd.