When the photographer of the couple Macron hosted Alexandre Benalla

Europe

The former employee of the Elysee claims to have been helped by "Mimi" Marchand in July 2018, according to a survey of "Special Envoy" broadcast Thursday on France 2.

By Ariane Chemin and François Krug Posted today at 11:02

Time to Reading 3 min.

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Is "Mimi" going to be caught by the Benalla affair? According to a survey of France 2's "Envoyé spécial" magazine, to be broadcast on Thursday, June 20, Michèle Marchand, patron of the photographic agency Bestimage, hosted Alexandre Benalla in July 2018, at the height of the scandal, in an apartment of West of Paris. Queen of the press people, M^me Marchand is also the formidable guardian of the Macron couple's image since the summer of 2017.

Chokri Wakrim, a soldier implicated in the contract negotiated by Mr. Benalla with a Russian oligarch, entrusted him to the journalists of "Special Envoy". According to him,^me Marchand had even made available to Emmanuel Macron's former deputy chief of staff one of Bestimage's "submarines" – a van with tinted windows allowing him to "hide" or move without being spotted. the paparazzi jargon as a policeman. "We used a van from the Bestimage company (…) which is usually used to spot (photograph) people "explains this witness.

Interviewed twice by the "Special Envoy" team, Michèle Marchand only admitted to having "Maybe loaned (her) car two or three times in late July ", but never welcomed Alexander Benalla, "Not even to have an aperitif". The latter has just confirmed the June 15 testimony of Chokri Wakrim: "At" Mimi ", I stayed an easy week. She also offered me money but I refused. " And Mr. Benalla to add: "Frankly, I do not see why she does not take it. She offered me help, I did not ask her anything! "

Read also A relative of Benalla denies having moved the safe before the search of his home

"Tell me how you want to proceed"

This is not the first time that the name of Michèle Marchand arises at the turn of the Benalla affair. On July 25, 2018, the former employee of the Elysée grants an interview to the World. The meeting takes place at Marc Francelet, a former journalist converted into a businessman. Surprise: while Mr. Benalla poses for the photographer of World, M^me Marchand rings at the door. It was only a coincidence, she says at the time. "Mimi" would have dropped off at "Marc", an old friend, the keys to a vacation home in Biarritz.

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