Europe: French President Emmanuel Macron's office significantly overspent its budget last year. largely due to extravagant state dinners. A report from the country's top audit court reveals that a dinner for King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Versailles cost nearly €475.000. This included €166.193 for catering and €42.515 for drinks. with additional expenses covering the attendance of celebrities such as Hugh Grant and Mick Jagger. The dinner. held in September 2023. featured a luxurious menu with blue lobster and Bresse poultry.

Additionally. Macron hosted another costly state dinner for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2023 at the Louvre. which amounted to €412.000. The increased expenditure on such events. coupled with the high cost of presidential travel. has contributed to a 6.5% rise in the presidency's overall costs to €117.2 million. resulting in a budget shortfall of €8.3 million. The audit office has called for the Elysée Palace to make significant efforts to restore financial balance.