France: Investigators were not allowed to search the presidential palace (prosecutor's office)

Investigators looking into the awarding of public contracts to the same company in France were not allowed access to the presidential palace of the Elysée on Tuesday, a magistrate said in a statement.

Police officers from the financial and anti-corruption brigade are investigating the awarding of the contract for the entry ceremonies at the Pantheon, a monument in Paris where prominent figures in French history are honored.

They were told that Article 67 of the Constitution entailed "the inviolability of premises attached to the Presidency of the Republic," said the financial public prosecutor, Pascal Prache, in the statement.

"Investigators presented themselves this morning at the Presidency of the Republic," confirmed the Elysée, assuring that they had been informed that "the documents of the agents of the Elysée, separable from the activity of the Head of State, and thus communicable, would be transmitted to them on request."

These "search operations" targeted "various locations" on Tuesday, including "homes," added Pascal Prache, without giving further details.

These operations are part of an investigation opened in October 2025 for "favoritism, illegal taking of interest, corruption and influence peddling". It targets "in particular the conditions for awarding certain public contracts relating to the organization of pantheonization ceremonies by the Centre des monuments nationaux (CMN)", the prosecutor continued.

According to Le Canard Enchaîné, which broke the story, investigators are questioning the choice for the past 22 years of the sole company Shortcut Events to organize the ceremonies for the entry of illustrious women and men into the Pantheon.

Each pantheonization was billed to the State "around 2 million euros", estimates the satirical weekly.

According to Article 67 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic is, as a general rule, not responsible for acts performed in that capacity. During his term of office, he cannot be required to testify before any French court or administrative authority, nor can he be the subject of any legal action, investigation, inquiry, or prosecution.

AFP