French prosecutors probe Macron election campaigns
France's prosecution services specialised in financial crimes have confirmed that a current investigation into potential tax fraud by the US-based consultancy giant McKinsey has been widened to include involvement by consultancy companies in Emmanuel Macron's two successful presidential election campaigns in 2017 and 2022.
FranceFrance’s financial prosecutor has opened an investigation into the role of consultancy groups including McKinsey in the 2017 and 2022 French election races, when Emmanuel Macron was elected and then won a second term, reports The Guardian.
The financial prosecutor’s office confirmed that its current investigation into potential tax fraud by the US-based consultancy giant McKinsey had been widened to include consulting firms’ possible involvement in the two election races. Investigators are looking into allegations of “improperly keeping campaign accounts”, the “undervaluing of the role of consulting firms” and “favouritism”.
The prosecutor did not name any politician or party as a target of the inquiry and did not confirm a report in the Le Parisien daily that the investigation focused on Macron’s campaign.
The centrist president’s office said it had taken note of the investigation and that prosecutors needed to carry out their work “in all independence”.
Macron swept to power promising to clean up politics in France. French presidents enjoy immunity while in office.
