The storm arrived through the Luxembourg Palace. Since the publication, on March 17, of a report by the Senate parliamentary commission of inquiry into “the influence of consulting firms on public policies”, all the contenders for the presidential election are called upon to position themselves on this subject which has become explosive. Starting with the outgoing president and candidate for re-election, Emmanuel Macron, while the government is singled out for having increased the use of these private bodies as part of strategic state missions. According to the report by Eliane Assassi, president of the communist group (CRCE) in the Senate, their cost would amount to more than one billion euros for the year 2021, more than double the period 2018-2021.
This controversy, described as “state scandal” by the oppositions, revives another political confrontation, between the Senate, the executive and its majority. More subtle than during the Benalla affair or the management of the health crisis, the political instrumentalization trials nevertheless burst out nine days before the first round of the presidential election, on April 10.
The response of the macronists, in particular in the face of the tax optimization revelations of the American consulting firm McKinsey, intensified in a few days. First considered as a non-subject, the case was the subject of a major clarification on Wednesday March 30 in Bercy during a press conference held by the Minister of the Public Service and the Budget, Amélie de Montchalin and Olivier Dussopt. Because in the meantime, the controversy has continued to swell, to the point of inviting itself into the movements of the candidate Macron. “Themselves made the choice to put this subject in the presidential campaign with this useless and counterproductive press conference”, support Mme Assassi. A few minutes after the intervention of the two ministers at Bercy, the Senate published a press release to affirm that “the government continues to minimize the influence of consulting firms on public policy”.
“They magnify the line”
Another parliamentary report made public in January serves as a counterattack to the majority. Coming from an information mission on “the various missions entrusted by the State administration to external service providers”, chaired by the deputy Les Républicains (LR) from L’Orne Véronique Louwagie, with as rapporteur the deputy La République en Marche (LRM) from Isère Cendra Motin, it points to a “slight increase in the use of the practice over the past five years”which remains lower than what is practiced in Anglo-Saxon countries. “The Senate has decided to make its report a political rant to make itself visible, critical Mme Motin, herself a former consultant. They magnify the line and hijack a certain number of figures, leaving room for doubt. »
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