Maxime Vaudano

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Did Macron really add €1 trillion to France's national debt?

While this figure often cited by opposition parties is misleading, France's debt has risen significantly under Emmanuel Macron's presidency, partly due to his tax policy decisions.

Published on September 7, 2025, at 3:24 am (Paris) Maxime Vaudano

In Graphs

Will France's government collapse? Do the math with our simulator

To survive the confidence vote on September 8, Prime Minister François Bayrou must secure a majority of votes cast in the Assemblée Nationale. Abstentions and absences will not be counted.

Published on August 28, 2025, at 11:35 am (Paris), updated on August 28, 2025, at 11:49 am Pierre Breteau Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

European Parliament accuses far-right members of illegally funding nonprofits

For years, far-right parties, including Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National, distributed money to various associations, using funds intended for their parliamentary group's operations. The European Parliament deems the practice illegal.

Published on July 3, 2025, at 4:37 pm (Paris) Jérémie Baruch, Clément Guillou, Anne Michel, Vincent Nouvet and Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Far-right RN and allies face new embezzlement scandal at European Parliament

The now-defunct far-right Identity and Democracy group, which included Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National, misused €4.3 million in operating funds, according to a confidential report revealed by Le Monde and its partners.

Published on July 3, 2025, at 12:58 pm (Paris), updated on July 3, 2025, at 4:44 pm Jérémie Baruch, Clément Guillou, Anne Michel, Vincent Nouvet and Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

EU-Israel scientific collaborations face criticism over potential military use

Israeli companies and universities are involved in hundreds of research projects funded by the European Union. Left-wing politicians and NGOs fear that European money could help enhance Israel's military capabilities.

Published on May 31, 2025, at 5:08 pm (Paris), updated on June 9, 2025, at 3:24 pm Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Banking secrecy: Switzerland clamps down on journalists but uses their revelations

A law in the country prohibits exploiting banking data leaks without any exception for public interest. Yet Swiss authorities have relied on the press to scrutinize the malpractices of banks, as revealed by our new investigation into Reyl.

Published on May 9, 2025, at 1:37 am (Paris), updated on May 9, 2025, at 7:47 am Maxime Vaudano

In Depth Subscribers only

'Conclave': Is the film faithful to reality?

Edward Berger's thriller portrays a relentless and twist-filled campaign to elect the new pope, with some deviations from the practices and rules of conclaves.

Published on May 8, 2025, at 4:00 am (Paris), updated on May 8, 2025, at 11:23 am Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Swiss bank Reyl under investigation for negligence on dirty money

Confidential documents reveal that Reyl has housed politically sensitive figures' wealth without consistent respect for anti-money laundering rules. It is currently under investigation by the Swiss financial regulatory authority.

Published on April 9, 2025, at 10:29 am (Paris) Maxime Vaudano

In Depth Subscribers only

Trump's newspeak: A semantic war in the federal government

In just a few weeks, the US president has embarked on an impressive lexical blitzkrieg with strong ideological content.

Published on March 3, 2025, at 7:00 pm (Paris) William Audureau Maxime Vaudano

News Subscribers only

EU sanctions Promtech, company suspected of supplying Russian army

On Monday, February 24, the European Council unveiled its 16th set of sanctions, targeting a Russian company whose practices were revealed in an investigation by Le Monde last year.

Published on February 25, 2025, at 2:55 pm (Paris) Adrien Sénécat Maxime Vaudano

Explainer Subscribers only

Why is French PM Bayrou under fire over accusations of abuse in a Catholic school?

Former pupils of a Catholic school in the Pyrenées have complained of sexual and physical abuse, and François Bayrou, who has ties to the school, has been accused by political opponents of dishonesty over his knowledge of the allegations.

Published on February 21, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on April 24, 2025, at 2:44 pm William Audureau, Romain Imbach, Adel Miliani, Léa Prati and Maxime Vaudano

Round-up

What's in the French state's 2025 budget

On Thursday, France's budget was finally adopted after a two-month delay. Here are some of the measures in the legislation.

Published on February 7, 2025, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on February 7, 2025, at 11:55 am William Audureau, Aude Dassonville, Iris Derœux, Maxime Ferrer, Assma Maad, Manon Romain and Maxime Vaudano

In Depth Subscribers only

Sarkozy's trial: The full timeline of the Libyan campaign financing case

Since January 6, the former French president has been on trial over accusations he received funding from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi for his 2007 presidential campaign. Here is the timeline of what we know, spanning over more than 20 years.

Published on January 12, 2025, at 8:00 pm (Paris), updated on January 12, 2025, at 8:24 pm Anne-Aël Durand, Gary Dagorn, Assma Maad, Maxime Vaudano, Manon Romain and Agathe Dahyot

Explainer

Michel Barnier is France's new prime minister. What happens next?

While there is no set deadline for Michel Barnier and Emmanuel Macron to announce the new government's composition, a motion of no confidence is likely be tabled in the Assemblée soon, in a bid to topple the new premier.

Published on September 6, 2024, at 9:39 am (Paris), updated on September 6, 2024, at 6:27 pm William Audureau Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

From France to Turkey, how a Russian group supplies its army with European equipment

Le Monde and its partners reveal that Russian group Promtech, which has customers in the military-industrial complex, has continued to source from Europe despite international sanctions.

Published on July 18, 2024, at 6:01 pm (Paris) Adrien Sénécat Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Meet the far-right French MPs elected despite racist, anti-abortion or climate-skeptic stances

Twenty-one new or returning MPs who have taken radical positions will serve in the Assemblée Nationale for Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National party.

Published on July 14, 2024, at 4:00 am (Paris) Adrien Sénécat, Jérémie Baruch, Florian Reynaud, Iris Derœux, Samuel Laurent and Maxime Vaudano

Explainer

Who will govern France? Four questions to understand what happens after the election

Could France be led by a coalition government, minority government or technical government? In the absence of a clear absolute majority in the Assemblée Nationale, there is a risk of deadlock.

Published on July 8, 2024, at 11:02 am (Paris), updated on July 8, 2024, at 2:07 pm Romain Geoffroy Adrien Sénécat Maxime Vaudano

In Graphs

French elections: 224 candidates have officially withdrawn from the second round

The official list of candidates for the second round shows that 224 eligible candidates have dropped out, most of them to help beat the far right.

Published on July 2, 2024, at 8:58 am (Paris), updated on July 3, 2024, at 4:27 pm Pierre Breteau, Maxime Vaudano, Iris Derœux, Jonathan Parienté, Patxi Berhouet and Romain Geoffroy

Investigation Subscribers only

Pravfond, the discreet slush fund for Russian spies and their foreign legal woes

Under the guise of helping its nationals abroad, this Russian foreign ministry foundation has funded disinformation projects and the legal defense of people suspected of espionage.

Published on June 2, 2024, at 7:01 pm (Paris), updated on June 2, 2024, at 7:01 pm Damien Leloup, Thomas Eydoux, Lucas Minisini and Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Euromore, Russia's new information warfare weapon

Organizations close to the Kremlin have funded the creation of a news website intended to take over from Russian state-run media outlets RT and Sputnik, which have been banned in Europe since the invasion of Ukraine.

Published on June 2, 2024, at 7:01 pm (Paris) Lucas Minisini, Maxime Vaudano, Thomas Eydoux and Damien Leloup

In Depth

All you need to know about CETA, the controversial EU-Canada trade agreement

On March 21, French senators will vote on the final ratification of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, which has already been provisionally in force for seven years.

Published on March 21, 2024, at 12:00 am (Paris) Maxime Vaudano

News Subscribers only

Paris City Hall searched over mayor's trip to Tahiti

Prosecutors have opened a preliminary investigation to shed light on the conditions of Anne Hidalgo's controversial trip to the Pacific in the autumn.

Published on March 5, 2024, at 3:39 pm (Paris) Abdelhak El Idrissi Maxime Vaudano

News Subscribers only

French dairy giant Lactalis raided on suspicion of massive tax evasion

The investigation by the French National Financial Prosecutor's Office is aimed at determining whether the multinational evaded French taxes by transferring profits to its companies in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Published on February 6, 2024, at 11:39 pm (Paris), updated on February 7, 2024, at 10:15 am Abdelhak El Idrissi Adrien Sénécat Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

'Carbon bombs': TotalEnergies is the world's second-largest extractor from huge deposits

From Uganda to Kazakhstan, from the Russian Arctic to Norway and Brazil, the French group is linked to at least 23 giant hydrocarbon extraction sites, as an operator or shareholder

Published on November 1, 2023, at 3:32 pm (Paris) Maxime Vaudano Raphaëlle Aubert

In Graphs

'Carbon bombs': Explore the map of the world's biggest fossil fuel expansion projects

Oil, gas, coal: 422 extraction sites alone are ruining the chances of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. An original map drawn up by two French NGOs has lifted the veil on the companies involved in these projects.

Published on October 31, 2023, at 11:18 am (Paris) Raphaëlle Aubert Léa Sanchez Maxime Vaudano

Visual Story Subscribers only

'Carbon bombs': The fossil fuel projects dooming the world's climate efforts

The operation of 422 huge oil, gas and coal fields is wiping out the chances of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. For the first time, two French NGOs have identified the companies, banks and governments behind these ticking time bombs.

Published on October 31, 2023, at 4:35 am (Paris), updated on October 31, 2023, at 2:18 pm Léa Sanchez, Raphaëlle Aubert, Thomas Steffen, Elsa Delmas, Maxime Vaudano and Maxime Ferrer infographic

Investigation Subscribers only

As Macron claims to fight plastic waste, the Elysée stocks up on disposable items

The French presidency has signed a contract with kitchen item suppliers that runs until the end of Emmanuel Macron's second term. As many as 800,000 disposable plastic items could be used over four years.

Published on September 4, 2023, at 9:21 pm (Paris) Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

French state excessively 'dependent' on consulting firms, Court of Audit confirms

A report published Monday notes how the state has been increasingly relying on consultants, including for missions that could be handled by the administration itself. Expenditure on these contracts has soared under Emmanuel Macron's presidency.

Published on July 10, 2023, at 12:37 pm (Paris) Adrien Sénécat Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Kering CEO Pinault's losing bet, taxed both in London and Paris

The boss of luxury group Kering, who lives between France and the UK, is taxed by both countries on part of his income.

Published on May 29, 2023, at 4:03 pm (Paris) Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Kering's sleight of hand to reduce its executives' tax bill

The luxury group paid at least €200 million in remuneration to its executives through offshore subsidiaries. Its CEO, François-Henri Pinault, considered tax exile in London but decided against it.

Published on May 29, 2023, at 11:53 am (Paris) Maxime Vaudano

News

France's short-haul domestic flight ban: A measure lacking substance

Only three routes to and from Paris have been banned, and the measure will have little effect on France's greenhouse gas emissions.

Published on May 26, 2023, at 12:00 pm (Paris) Manon Romain Adrien Sénécat Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

The downfall of Paris' mysterious luxury real estate owner

Adrien Labi, who owns numerous lavish buildings in Paris, has been indicted for tax fraud and money laundering. The courts have seized nearly half a billion euros to ensure the payment of his tax debt.

Published on April 16, 2023, at 1:00 pm (Paris) Abdelhak El Idrissi Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

BNP Paribas, Société Générale, Exane, Natixis and HSBC offices searched as part of tax fraud scandal

France's financial prosecutor suspects the banks of having allowed foreign clients to escape dividend taxation using 'CumCum,' a practice revealed by 'Le Monde' in 2018.

Published on March 28, 2023, at 2:43 pm (Paris), updated on March 29, 2023, at 9:37 am Anne Michel Jérémie Baruch Maxime Vaudano

News

'Qatargate': How members of the European Parliament voted on Qatar

As suspicion turns inwards, members of the European Parliament are wondering to what extent Qatar managed to influence voting choices. 'Le Monde' analyses their record.

Published on December 23, 2022, at 5:00 am (Paris), updated on December 23, 2022, at 2:32 pm Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Picassos in the Caribbean: Billionaire Patrick Drahi's schemes to avoid paying taxes on artwork

The businessman moved his huge collection to offshore companies just before a new European tax regulation came into effect, and avoided paying several million euros of taxes in Luxembourg by modifying his paintings' valuation.

Published on November 11, 2022, at 12:00 pm (Paris), updated on January 3, 2023, at 3:02 pm Maxime Vaudano Jérémie Baruch

In Depth Subscribers only

Uber Files: An extraordinary worldwide lobbying operation

In Germany, Ireland, Italy, Belgium and the US, the ride-hailing platform sought out the best representatives to obtain regulations that worked for its business.

Published on July 14, 2022, at 11:00 am (Paris), updated on September 7, 2022, at 2:32 pm Maxime Vaudano, Anne Michel, Jérémie Baruch and Damien Leloup

Investigation Subscribers only

Uber Files: When the company courted French billionaires, hoping for VIP lobbyists

In 2015, Uber's CEO convinced French billionaires Bernard Arnault and Xavier Niel to invest several million euros, with the hope that they would use their influence on the French government.

Published on July 10, 2022, at 6:00 pm (Paris), updated on January 3, 2023, at 3:15 pm Maxime Vaudano

Investigation Subscribers only

Capgemini, the costly consulting firm that the French government can no longer do without

The French State has paid consulting firm Capgemini at least 1.1 billion euros in five years. The firm's omnipresence has caused some grumblings within the administration, with criticism about costly projects, failed operations, a lack of transparency and conflicts of interest.

Published on July 4, 2022, at 12:27 pm (Paris), updated on January 3, 2023, at 3:15 pm Maxime Vaudano

News

After French government's excessive use of consulting firms, senators criticize 'inaction' and propose reform

Two French senators want to improve the transparency of consultancy work and the ethical obligations of consultants in order to limit the risks of conflicts of interest.

Published on June 22, 2022, at 7:28 am (Paris), updated on June 22, 2022, at 9:55 am Maxime Vaudano

In Depth Subscribers only

What are Marine Le Pen's ties to Vladimir Putin's Russia?

Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen kept close ties with the Russian regime for many years. She has tried to brush aside her past statements on the country and its leader since the invasion of Ukraine.

Published on April 21, 2022, at 2:54 pm (Paris), updated on May 30, 2022, at 3:31 pm Romain Geoffroy Maxime Vaudano

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