After an investigation was opened for illegal conflict of interest targeting Renaud Muselier, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region affirms that public procurement procedures complied with regulations. The local authority also announces its intention to file a complaint against an unknown person.
The opening of an investigation for illegal conflict of interest in Marseille, following an anonymous report targeting Renaud Muselier, led the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region to publish a statement to defend its operations. The local authority recalls having made “the prevention and fight against breaches of integrity a priority of its public action.”
The Region emphasizes that it complies with the provisions of the Sapin 2 law and has presented, since 2022, an annual report of the actions implemented to prevent corruption risks. The statement also indicates that the local authority benefits from a dual AFNOR certification, renewed in 2026: ISO 9001 certification for quality management and ISO 37001 certification for anti-corruption management.
Regarding contracts awarded to Pauline Béchet Consulting company, the Region affirms that each contract was concluded “following open and transparent competitive procedures,” in accordance with the Public Procurement Code.
Between 2019 and 2024, three framework agreements concerning an influence strategy were entrusted to this company, to which is added a digital marketing contract awarded in 2021. The local authority specifies that several companies participated in each consultation and that the selected bids were chosen according to the criteria defined in the calls for tenders.
A complaint against an unknown person considered following accusations
In its statement, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region recalls that the public contracts in question were examined by the call for tenders committee, without the presidency of Renaud Muselier, before being submitted to the State’s legality control. The local authority assures that it holds all documents relating to these procedures at the disposal of the judiciary.
The Region also specifies that Pauline Béchet Consulting participated in two other consultations, in 2021 and 2025, without being selected. According to the local authority, this point demonstrates that the procedures are based on “objective, transparent and verifiable criteria.”
The statement finally considers that the anonymous accusations relayed in the press “unfairly and seriously damage the regional institution as well as all of its employees.” Consequently, the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region announces that it reserves the right to file, in the coming days, a complaint against an unknown person with the prosecutor of the Republic of Marseille.
The investigation opened by the Marseille prosecutor’s office follows an anonymous report asserting that an employee responsible for maintaining a chalet belonging to Renaud Muselier would be an employee of a company regularly awarded public contracts by the South Region. Renaud Muselier contests these accusations. “I have nothing to reproach myself for, the region’s procedures are very clear on the award of contracts,” declared the president of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Region, who denounces a “slanderous anonymous report“ and assures that he is “considering filing a defamation complaint.“
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