The McKinsey affair in France is spreading.

According to press reports, the national financial prosecutor's office launched an investigation in October into whether there could have been irregularities in the financing of Emmanuel Macron's election campaigns in 2017 and 2022.

Michael Wiegel

Political correspondent based in Paris.

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The central question is whether the presidential candidate could have benefited from the services of the American consulting firm McKinsey in an unauthorized manner.

For the 2017 election campaign, Macron's campaign accounts have already been reviewed and approved by the Constitutional Council.

The expenditure for the 2022 election campaign is currently being examined, and the report by the responsible CNCCFP commission should be completed by the end of December.

Financial prosecutor Jean-Francois Bohnert confirmed in a communiqué that investigations were being carried out into allegations of favoritism and aid to favoritism.

One of the peculiarities of the French presidential system is that the president vouches for campaign expenses with his name.

Macron cannot be prosecuted for the duration of his term of office.

Three coroners are investigating whether Macron had campaign support from McKinsey advisers without citing it in the editions.

As early as April, the financial public prosecutor's office had announced that it had initiated a preliminary investigation into suspected tax fraud.

The American consulting firm McKinsey was not mentioned by name in the notice, but the wording suggested that the investigation was aimed at the company.

The affair was set in motion by the right-wing majority in the Senate.

An investigative report criticized the sharp rise in consultant fees during Macron's first term.

The senators claimed McKinsey did not pay corporate tax in France between 2011 and 2020.

They also complained that McKinsey advisors had switched to Macron's campaign team and still hold important posts in the presidential party.

The judiciary now wants to check whether there were any favors and in return the American company was given orders.

McKinsey is said to have received 500,000 euros for a seminar by the state education ministry on the “school of tomorrow”.

The Elysée Palace said it had taken note of the prosecutor's notice.

It is up to the judiciary to conduct the investigations with complete independence.