A dinner at Versailles, following the state visit of British King Charles, has caused a significant budget deficit for Emmanuel Macron. The Elysée, the official workplace of the French president, has incurred a total of 125 million euros in costs last year, exceeding the budget by 8 million euros.
The French Court of Auditors is not overly concerned about the increasing costs, noting that the Elysée has implemented cost-saving measures, such as using its own staff for organizing “cocktail parties for less than 100 people.”
In September 2023, King Charles III and Queen Consort paid an official state visit to France. The French showcased their hospitality, including an extravagant dinner at the Palace of Versailles, built by Louis XIV in the 17th century.
No expense was spared for the dinner. The total cost of the meal was nearly 500,000 euros. The menu featured blue lobster and pink macaron cookies, along with exclusive bottles of wine worth 40,000 euros. Approximately 160 guests attended, including Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger and British actor Hugh Grant.
Earlier in July, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited France. He was welcomed at the Louvre and given a personal tour by Emmanuel Macron. The cost of the visit and the closing dinner was about 400,000 euros.
The costs of the dinners escalated due to outsourcing to external caterers and expensive decorations.
The French president’s budget was significantly exceeded in the past year. The Elysée spent a staggering 125 million euros, 8.3 million euros more than budgeted. This includes costs related to the President’s diplomatic and presidential tasks, as well as administration, staff, security, and building maintenance.
However, the Court of Auditors criticizes the failure to book the French President’s single journeys. For example, 12 trips were cancelled without being able to be repaid, resulting in a loss of about 830,000 euros. The sudden cancellation of a trip to Germany, estimated at a cost of 500,000 euros, significantly contributed to this loss.
