Paris, Dec 14, (dpa/GNA) – French prosecutors searched the offices of President Emmanuel Macron’s party, as well as those of the US consulting firm McKinsey, as part of an investigation into the French leader’s election campaign financing.
The investigation was launched at the end of October into allegations of mismanagement of election campaign accounts and favouritism during Macron’s presidential election campaigns in 2017 and 2022, the public prosecutor’s office in Paris said on Wednesday.
The focus is particularly on whether Macron, illegally benefited from the services of the global consulting giant, which has been under tax investigation in France since the spring.
McKinsey’s Paris offices, the headquarters of Marcon’s Renaissance political party as well as the offices of the party’s funding association were searched, according to the public prosecutor’s office.
The so-called “McKinsey Affair” in France stems in part from criticism of extensive spending on outside consultants by Macron’s government. Spending on outside advice by the French government has risen significantly during Macron’s tenure.
It was also publicly revealed that McKinsey, had not paid any taxes in France for at least a decade.
The company has said it has complied with the law.
Prosecutors are now investigating whether Macron, received undisclosed support from McKinsey during his presidential campaigns which he should have disclosed on campaign finance balance sheets. A candidate’s campaign spending is strictly capped under French law.
There have been numerous allegations, however, that politicians have concealed expenditure or manipulated invoices, in order to hide illegal spending over the budget limits.
Investigators are also examining whether Macron’s government favoured McKinsey when awarding contracts – and whether Macron and his political allies benefited as a result.
The leading French newspaper Le Monde reported last spring that current and former McKinsey consultants were involved in Macron’s 2017 election campaign and that McKinsey employees had been given posts in Macron’s party and government ministries.
GNA