Élysée Official Alexis Kohler Refuses Senate Testimony in Nestlé Water Scandal

Citing separation of powers, Kohler declines to appear before the investigative commission as scrutiny grows over government and corporate accountability.

Alexis Kohler, Secretary-General of the Élysée, has declined to testify before the Senate commission investigating Nestlé's alleged illicit water treatment practices.
Kohler cited the principle of separation of powers, a rationale he previously used to avoid testifying in a separate National Assembly inquiry on budget issues.
The Senate commission was formed in November 2024 following media reports of non-compliant water treatment methods used by Nestlé in bottled mineral water production.
Recent revelations suggest a meeting between Kohler and Nestlé representatives led to government authorization of a controversial treatment transformation plan.
The commission, which has conducted extensive hearings with ministers, Nestlé executives, NGOs, and journalists, is set to present its final report on May 19, 2025.