Political corruption in France and the ‘Moralisation of Public Life’ under Emmanuel Macron

Type:

Book Chapter

Author:

Susan Collard; Françoise Dreyfus

Published:

2025

Publisher:

Routledge

This chapter discusses the problem of political corruption in France through the discussion of a law ‘on the moralisation of public life’ passed by President Macron to tackle it. This legislation was precipitated by the eruption during the election campaign of the ‘Penelopegate’ affair, incriminating the ‘Republicains’ candidate François Fillon and his wife Penelope, but the law also sought to address a more deep-seated set of problems relating to political corruption said to be undermining public trust in politics. The chapter provides some historical background explaining the development of political corruption during the Fifth Republic and its negative impact on trust in politicians, summarising the laws passed over several decades to stop corrupt political practices, particularly with regard to party finance. The second part of the chapter uses official data to assess the extent to which politicians comply with the legislation. It shows that not only was there limited enthusiasm amongst parliamentarians for accepting the demands imposed on them but also, at the level of government ministers and their advisers, a number of cases of misconduct in office led to resignations and sanctions that tarnished Macron's presidency, which has not delivered the ‘exemplary republic’ to which he aspired.

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