Graft probe: French investigators searched presidential palace

PARIS: French investigators have searched the Elysee presidential palace as part of a probe into alleged favouritism and corruption, prosecutors said Friday, after a previous attempt was refused.

The search at the official residence of President Emmanuel Macron, carried out on Thursday, is linked to a probe into the repeated selection over several years of the same company to organise induction ceremonies at the Pantheon mausoleum, where prominent French figures are buried.

“Search operations took place on May 21 on the premises of the Elysee Palace, as part of the judicial inquiry focusing notably on the conditions under which certain public contracts relating to the organisation of Pantheon ceremonies were awarded,” the financial public prosecutor’s office said.

Thursday’s operation was “preceded by institutional consultations to ensure they could proceed,” it said.

A representative of the Elysee told AFP that the presidency had authorised the search as the procedure “does not target” Macron and that “the necessary safeguards” were in place concerning the constitution and “the secrecy of national defence”.