As a member of the centrist government, the ex-presidential candidate is responsible for negotiating international agreements and benefits from foreign ministry funds. She has an annual expenses budget of £85,400 (€100,000) for her mission, as well as three staff members who are paid for by the foreign ministry. Prosecutors told French media that the probe aims to check how Ms Royal used the funds after broadcaster France Info reported in November that they had been used to pay advisers who had no connection whatsoever to her work as ambassador to the Poles.