Arthur de Laborde 2:15 p.m., March 29, 2022

Emmanuel Macron has denied having used consulting firms for public policies.

His detractors reproach him for the numerous contracts signed by the State with firms, in particular the American McKinsey.

A shadow point for the leader LREM, less than two weeks from the first round.

"If there is evidence of manipulation, let it go to the criminal courts."

Emmanuel Macron bangs his fist on the table.

Less than two weeks before the first round of the presidential election, the President of the Republic is entangled in a scandal: some criticize him for the numerous contracts signed by the State with consulting firms, in particular the American McKinsey. 

A report from the Senate claims that this company would not have paid any tax in France between 2011 and 2020. "We have the impression that there are tricks, it's false", he replied with annoyance on France 3. "No contract is made in the Republic without respecting the rule of public procurement", "that anyone who has proof that there is manipulation puts the contract in question in criminal proceedings", repeated the chief of State.

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Emmanuel Macron's detractors rely on a Senate report published ten days ago.

This parliamentary work shows that this type of contract has more than doubled between 2018 and 2021, with a record cost of more than one billion euros in the last year.

In recent days, all the candidates and their supporters have put the subject back on the table with each of their interventions.

All, or almost, denounce a state scandal. 

Break away from this image of "president of the rich"

Traveling to Dijon on Monday, Emmanuel Macron said: "When you want to speed up, go very quickly and very hard on a policy, you sometimes have to use service providers outside the state. You shouldn't confuse everything. I hope that this debate will be an informed debate where everyone justifies their expenditure.

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Officially, Emmanuel Macron's troops display their serenity and repeat in chorus that the subject is totally removed from the concerns of the French.

But some recognize that it is urgent to put an end to this little music on the stranglehold of the private sector on the top of the State.

A refrain likely to reactivate at the worst time the image of President of the rich.