French Audit Office "124 Billion Won Deficit Last Year"
7 Billion Won Spent on a Single Dinner with King Charles III of England
Excessive Meal Costs and Too Many Events
The French Court of Auditors pointed out that the deficit of the ?lys?e Palace, the presidential office, has increased unprecedentedly to 8.3 million euros (about 12.5 billion KRW). The biggest factor for the deficit was identified as the lavish state dinners, with one dinner attended by King Charles III of the United Kingdom costing 475,000 euros (about 700 million KRW).
On the 30th (local time), foreign media including the British daily The Guardian reported that in the annual budget audit report of the ?lys?e Palace released the day before by the French Court of Auditors, the total budget used by the ?lys?e Palace last year reached 125 million euros (about 186.9 billion KRW), recording a deficit of 8.3 million euros.
Charles III (left), King of the United Kingdom, and Emmanuel Macron, President of France, are drinking after a toast at a state dinner held last September at the Palace of Versailles in France. [Photo by Reuters]
The Court of Auditors cited two lavish state dinners attended respectively by King Charles III of the United Kingdom and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the main causes of the 'deficit household.' In particular, the ?lys?e Palace spent a total of 475,000 euros, about 700 million KRW, on the dinner with King Charles III held at the Palace of Versailles in September last year.
At this event, at least 160 invited guests attended, including British actor Hugh Grant and Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger, who enjoyed premium blue lobster, champagne-marinated French poultry, and more. The dinner was also accompanied by expensive wine (2004 Ch?teau Mouton Rothschild) and macarons with rose petal cream. Of the dinner expenses, 166,000 euros (about 250 million KRW) were spent on catering, and 40,000 euros (about 60 million KRW) on wine and other beverages. The rest was spent on floral decorations. The cost per guest amounted to 3,000 euros (about 4.5 million KRW).
In July of the same year, a dinner with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited France on a state visit, cost 412,000 euros (about 600 million KRW). Of this, 172,922 euros (about 260 million KRW) were spent on catering, and 36,447 euros (about 54 million KRW) on beverages.
Amid such lavish dinners, the ?lys?e Palace recorded its largest deficit ever last year. The high number of receptions also affected the financial deficit. The total number of receptions held at the ?lys?e Palace last year was 171, which is 25 more than the 146 receptions held in 2019 before COVID-19. The number of guests increased by 13% compared to the previous year, and the average expenditure per guest also rose by 20.5%.
Regarding this, the ?lys?e Palace explained, "France maintains close diplomatic relations with many countries," and "when hosting heads of state, we hold events commensurate with those held by the counterpart."
Additionally, the Court of Auditors pointed out that President Macron caused many unnecessary losses while planning his overseas trips. The losses from canceling 12 non-refundable trip plans amounted to more than 830,000 euros (about 12 billion KRW). In particular, a single case of canceling a planned visit to Germany in July last year resulted in a loss of about 500,000 euros (about 7.5 billion KRW).
The Court of Auditors urged the ?lys?e Palace to "make significant efforts to restore and maintain financial balance."
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