a confidential dinner at Bercy

In 2015, Emmanuel Macron was Minister of Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs in François Hollande’s government. No one knew his ambitions for the future; he would not announce his candidacy for the 2017 presidential election until a year later, in November 2016.

On October 15, 2015, a dinner called “Fondation” was organized at Bercy. The invitations were sent by email by the secretary of the minister, Emmanuel Macron. “Cash Investigation” obtained this email and met a man who was among the guests. He speaks for the first time and testifies with his face hidden. He goes to this dinner without suspecting that it will be decisive. According to this witness, the table includes about twenty people, including Emmanuel Macron, his wife Brigitte, members of his cabinet, but also employees of McKinsey, some business leaders and leaders of political think tanks. It is a formal dinner, with waiters in uniform.

“First, Emmanuel Macron introduced the session by explaining that he was simply thinking about his future.says our witness. There, it becomes quite clear that we are talking about the future of Emmanuel Macron. And Brigitte Macron explains in particular that she believes that her husband has a role to play for France, that we must make him ambitious proposals.” From this moment on, “Everything is becoming clearer that Emmanuel Macron has more or less informally formed teams around him to work on his future.”

Karim Tadjeddine, at the time a consultant and head of McKinsey’s public service department, responsible for missions for the State, “presents to Emmanuel Macron his project, code-named ‘Chicxulub’…”according to our witness.

Chicxulub, what is it? It is a huge crater near the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico, caused by the fall of a giant asteroid about 66 million years ago. An explosion a thousand times more powerful than the Hiroshima bomb that is said to have caused the death of the dinosaurs. But what does Chicxulub mean in this context? Could it be the end of the dinosaurs in politics? Chicxulub is actually a code name for Emmanuel Macron’s political project.

Two judicial investigations have been opened by the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office for “non-compliant campaign account keeping” and “understatement of accounting items in a campaign account” as well as for “counts of favouritism and concealment of favouritism”.

Karim Tadjeddine has refused all interview requests from “Cash Investigation”. Questioned in writing, here is his response : “I got involved in the 2017 campaign in a personal capacity.”

The consulting firm McKinsey also declined any interview. Asked in writing, this is its response: “McKinsey fully recognizes the right of its employees to take part, legally and in a personal capacity, in civic and political activities.”

Excerpt from “McKinsey, a firm at the heart of power”, an investigation by “Cash Investigation” carried out in partnership with Le Nouvel Obs, to be seen on September 17, 2024.

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