Financial Police and Anti-Corruption Officers at the Élysée in Probe into Pantheon Ceremonies

Investigators from the financial and anti-corruption brigade of the Paris judicial police have visited the Élysée Palace, a significant development in an ongoing inquiry into public contracts. The focus of the investigation is on the ceremonies held for individuals entering the Panthéon, a prestigious national honor. For over twenty years, the contracts for organizing these solemn events have been consistently awarded to the same event management company, Shortcut Events, raising questions about the procurement process.

The inquiry, as reported by Le Canard enchaîné and confirmed by sources close to the investigation, centers on the contracts signed between the Presidency of the Republic and Shortcut Events. This company has been responsible for organizing Panthéon entry ceremonies from 2002 to 2024. The consistent awarding of these contracts, each costing the state approximately two million euros, has prompted judicial scrutiny into potential irregularities or favoritism.

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La police judiciaire était présente ce mardi l’Élysée dans le cadre d’une enquête sur des contrats publics liés aux cérémonies du Panthéon, attribués pendant plus de vingt ans à la même société d’événementiel.

In response to the police presence, the Élysée has affirmed its commitment to cooperating with judicial authorities. However, this cooperation is being conducted within the framework of Article 67 of the French Constitution, which outlines the inviolability of the President of the Republic. This constitutional provision means the president cannot be required to testify or be subject to legal proceedings related to actions taken in their official capacity during their term. The Élysée's stance emphasizes a balance between transparency and the protection of presidential immunity, ensuring that the investigation proceeds while respecting constitutional boundaries.

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À chaque fois que l’autorité judiciaire le demande, l’Elysée fait en sorte de collaborer. Mais toujours dans le respect de l’article 67 de la Constitution qui a trait à l’inviolabilité de la présidence de la République.