An investigation has been launched into a party thrown in honour of Emmanuel Macron

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It follows allegations earlier this year that the tender process for the organisation of the party was not conducted properly.

The formal judicial enquiry is a significant blow to Mr Macron’s reformist efforts, as it implicates his cabinet’s Labour minister, and casts doubt over her role in organising this high profile trip to the 2016 Consumer Electronics Show.

The probe comes just days after another key Macron aide - his campaign manager Richard Ferrand - was questioned for seven hours as part of a preliminary inquiry into alleged nepotism.

The Las Vegas event is question was organised by Business France - a state body promoting French business interests abroad.

It reportedly cost almost £354,000 (€400,000) and came at a time when Mr Macron was France’s economy minister, serving under the then Socialist government of his predecessor Francois Hollande.