French authorities have ordered searches at the RenaissanceMcKinsey headquarters. The move is tied to an investigation into potential improper financing of the 2017 presidential campaign, led by President Emmanuel Macron and the consulting firm that bears his party’s name. The searches were carried out on a Tuesday, initiated by the examining magistrates as part of two separate inquiries that were formally opened last October. The National Financial Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the investigations at the end of November, noting that three examining judges are handling the cases.
Officials are examining whether Macron’s 2017 campaign employed illicit financing through McKinsey, a major American multinational, as part of its path to the presidency and the subsequent parliamentary election. The probe aims to determine the flow of funds and the legality of campaign expenditures during that period.
Renascence, offering a cautious reply, stated that it is normal for the justice system to conduct independent investigations to shed light on such matters, while adding that it stands ready to cooperate with investigators. The firm’s stance underscores the balance between due process and transparency in a case that remains highly sensitive politically and legally.
Parisian investigators from the city’s special unit searched Renaissance’s offices, along with related documents and digital records. The material retrieved is among the first pieces of evidence in the new wave of inquiries, which are drawing on various sources, including accounts referenced by Le Parisien and other outlets. The availability of paper and electronic records is helping authorities map how campaigns were financed and how public funds or private contributions were allocated during that period.
During Macron’s first term, the consulting firm reportedly benefited from multiple public contracts, an issue that has repeatedly surfaced in public debates about governance and accountability. A parliamentary commission, initiated by a group of left-wing opposition senators, concluded that the government significantly expanded the use of special advisers across different state functions since 2018. The commission estimated total spending on such advisers would reach hundreds of millions of euros in the following year, highlighting the broader trends in governance and the allocation of public resources.
For McKinsey, the ongoing investigations come in the wake of another legal development involving the company within the past year, where a prior case involving alleged tax offenses and related laundering procedures had been noted in public records. The current inquiries are part of a wider pattern of scrutiny surrounding large consulting firms and their role in public sector work, political campaigns, and financial reporting. The stakes in these investigations are high, with potential implications for campaign finance rules, disclosure practices, and the oversight mechanisms that govern international consulting work conducted in collaboration with national governments and political actors. [Attribution: Le Parisien and official court statements, with corroborating coverage from multiple sources]
The ongoing investigations reflect broad concerns about the integrity of campaign financing and the use of external consultants in political campaigns. They also illustrate how national prosecutors are addressing complex cross-border issues where governance, law, and public policy intersect. As the cases develop, observers anticipate further disclosures that may clarify how funds were sourced and reported, and whether any regulatory thresholds or reporting obligations were breached in connection with the 2017 campaign and subsequent political activities. [Attribution: Court filings and parliamentary records summarized by multiple outlets]