MACRON’S PARTY OFFICES RAIDED BY FRENCH POLICE OVER CAMPAIGN FUNDS CONTROVERSY

Wed 14 December 2022:

On Wednesday, French prosecutors searched the headquarters of President Emmanuel Macron’s Renaissance Party in connection with an ongoing investigation. According to Reuters, the investigation focused on the French government’s use of consulting firms since 2017.

According to a report in the newspaper Le Parisien, the National Financial Prosecutors’ Office also searched the offices of consulting firm McKinsey.

“It’s normal for the judiciary to investigate freely and independently to shed all the light on this subject,” a Renaissance spokesman, Loic Signor, told AFP in the aftermath of the search.

He added that the party is ready “to provide all useful information on the campaigns”. McKinsey also confirmed that the search was conducted and they will be cooperating with the authorities.

The allegations over false election campaign accounting as well as favouritism and conspiracy has been dominating the political scene in France since the probe was launched earlier this year. The Prosecutor’s Office also told reporters that certain companies were favoured when it comes to government contracts with the total outlays reaching more than $1.1 billion.

The controversy did not specifically mention President Emmanuel Macron’s name, but he has been under pressure from the opposition over the matter. France has strict rules and regulations regarding election campaign financing, and over the last decade, various political parties have come under scrutiny for discrepancies in their numbers.

Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy was sentenced to one year in prison in 2021 for illegal financing of his presidential campaign in 2012.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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