Le Monde: Judges search Macron’s residence over public procurement case

Two investigating judges from Paris’s financial crimes unit have searched the Élysée Palace as part of an inquiry into the organisation of tribute ceremonies at the Panthéon, Le Monde has reported, citing multiple sources.

The sources said the investigation is examining how several public contracts were awarded to Shortcut Events, a company that has organised major presidential ceremonies in recent years. Neither the Élysée nor the public prosecutor’s office responded to Le Monde’s requests for comment.

The judges had initially attempted, unsuccessfully, to search the presidential palace on April 14.

On the same day, searches were conducted at the Centre for National Monuments, which oversees the awarding of contracts, as well as at Shortcut Events’ offices and the homes of several individuals under investigation.

According to the financial prosecutor’s office, legal arguments had been raised suggesting that Article 67 of the French Constitution rendered the premises of the presidency inviolable.

However, several constitutional experts quoted by Le Monde have disputed this interpretation, saying it applies to presidential functions rather than the physical location of the Élysée or its staff.

The current case stems from a June 2024 investigation published by Libération, which raised questions over the long-standing awarding of ceremonial contracts to Shortcut Events.

The firm has reportedly organised official events at the Panthéon for more than two decades, as well as the 80th anniversary of D-Day commemorations in Normandy in 2024.

The Élysée has previously been subject to searches, though such operations are typically preceded by notification of the secretary-general. In this case, officials were not informed in advance.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov