Macron’s cabinet at the heart of France’s corruption scandal Transparency International sounds alarm

The European Conservative has published an article by Hélène de Lauzun, highlighting the unprecedented level of corruption in France. The piece points out that since Emmanuel Macron assumed the presidency, 26 ministers have been implicated in political and legal scandals. We present Caliber.Az readers with an adapted version of this revealing article.

A new report has raised alarms over what it calls an “alarming and unprecedented deterioration” in corruption levels in France, highlighting the growing involvement of government officials in corruption cases. The findings reveal a record number of ministers appointed by President Emmanuel Macron embroiled in legal and political scandals.

On Tuesday, February 11, Transparency International, an NGO that tracks global corruption, revealed France’s significant drop in its Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024. The country fell five places compared to its 2023 ranking, landing at 25th place, now trailing behind Germany by ten positions.

This sharp decline marks an unprecedented moment since the inception of the index in 1995. Historically, France’s ranking had remained stable, but it now finds itself in the category of nations “at risk of losing control of corruption.”

The NGO’s report attributes this decline to the current political climate in France. It states, “This warning signal reflects a rise in breaches of integrity in France amid an institutional crisis.” The principle of setting a strong example at the highest levels of government has been severely undermined by Macron’s frequent appointment of individuals facing legal accusations to prominent state positions.

Since Macron’s first election in 2017, a staggering 26 ministers have been implicated in political and legal scandals, further eroding public trust in the civil service. Despite Macron’s initial call for ministers under investigation to step down, this principle has since been abandoned, fueling the perception of impunity among French leaders.

Recent events have only affirmed the concerns raised by the Transparency International report. The ongoing trial of former President Nicolas Sarkozy in Paris has attracted significant attention. Sarkozy stands accused of accepting fraudulent payments from Gaddafi’s Libya to fund his 2007 presidential campaign. Although he vehemently denies the charges, the evidence provided by his defence has failed to sway the courts. To make matters worse, Sarkozy has been placed under house arrest with an electronic tag due to a conviction in another corruption case — a historic first for a former French head of state.

Another prominent case is the appointment of Richard Ferrand, Macron’s ally, to head the Constitutional Council, one of France's highest administrative bodies. Ferrand was accused by the anti-corruption group Anticor of “illegal conflicts of interest.” Although the courts cleared him in 2021, the decision was based on the statute of limitations, leaving his name forever linked to corruption allegations involving a close associate of Macron. The ‘new world’ of political appointments that Macron once promoted — focused on integrity, avoiding favouritism, and steering clear of political connections — has seemingly evaporated.

Corruption in France is not confined to the upper echelons of power. A report by France Info revealed that corruption permeates all levels of government, including the ranks of civil servants. Known as ‘low-intensity corruption’ or ‘everyday corruption,’ these incidents often involve police officers using their administrative power to assist criminals for monetary gain. Offenses range from issuing fake documents and disguising stolen cars to tampering with seals during anti-drug checks. These cases are difficult to detect, often discovered only through investigations into more severe crimes.

Despite the growing corruption within France, European institutions, which have been quick to criticize alleged corruption in conservative governments like those in Hungary and Poland, have remained notably silent about France’s mounting scandals.

By Tamilla Hasanova