French police search sites in corruption probe, Macron’s presidential residence denies access

French President Emmanuel Macron walks to greet Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, two French nationals freed by Iran after three and a half years in detention, at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, April 8, 2026. (Tom Nicholson/Pool Photo via AP)

French police searched several locations on Tuesday as part of a corruption investigation but were denied access when they sought to enter the Elysee presidential palace, the national financial prosecutor’s office said.

The searches were conducted as part of a probe into favoritism, conflict of interest, corruption and influence peddling, focusing on the awarding of certain public contracts related to the organization of Pantheon ceremonies among others, the office said in a statement.

Several homes and offices were searched, the statement said, without elaborating.

President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed investigators showed up at the Elysee and said they were told information about presidential aides but unrelated to the president’s activities would be supplied upon request, without elaborating.

The Pantheon is a central Paris mausoleum where some of France’s most prominent national heroes are buried.

Satirical and investigative newspaper Le Canard Enchaine reported earlier on Tuesday that investigators are seeking to determine if the Paris-based company Shortcut, partly owned by Havas HAVAS.AS, which has organized state ceremonies such as the official burials in the Pantheon, received extraordinary support from the National Museums Centre, the Ministry of Culture or the Elysee.

Shortcut did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

(Reporting by Inti Landauro and Michel Rose; Editing by Makini Brice, William Maclean)