- Tweeter
republish
In a report, the Greco (Group of States against corruption) of the Council of Europe calls on France to implement a better anti-corruption policy. They are also worried about the opaque proximity between the executive and interest representatives.
" Gray areas where additional efforts are needed ". In a report published on January 9 , Greco, the Council of Europe's anti-corruption body, calls on France to do more to fight corruption . In his list of recommendations, he mentions possible changes in the administration, the police and even to the highest level of the state, the Presidency of the Republic, to improve the fight against corruption.
Act at the highest peak in the state
The peculiarity of this report, according to Eric Alt, vice-president of the Anticor association , is the fact that " it particularly concerns the executive ". In fact, of the 18 recommendations of Greco, 12 concern the presidency or the high functions of the State. In this area, the report proposes that the declarations of assets and interests of the Head of State, who “ is not free from corruption ”, be “ examined as soon as he takes office ” by the High Authority for Transparency of public life (HATVP).
Fight against #corruption in #France: GRECO is asking Paris to make more efforts to prevent corruption within the executive and more transparency between the French executive and lobbies.
🆕 the full report is available ⬇️https: //t.co/h4lNXdv714
To combat lobbying, the authors suggest, for example, that people exercising high executive functions (PHFE) " Be required to report publicly and at regular intervals on behalf of the representatives of interests met and the topics discussed ". Today, lobbyists who request an interview are registered with the HATVP, the report therefore proposes to also register those whose opinion is sought by a senior official. " Greater transparency is required, " add the members of the anti-corruption group.
Another point, Greco recommends extending the declaration of assets and interests to " spouses, partners and persons " dependent on the PHFE as well as paying more attention to " the interests declared by close advisers to ministers and the president. of the Republic ". Given " the decisive role of advisers in the decision-making process ," statements by advisers, like those of ministers, should also be made public, the report said.
Three-year anti-corruption plan
Despite the criticisms made, many advances are welcomed. The creations of the French Anti-Corruption Agency (AFA), the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP) or that of the National Financial Prosecutor's Office were congratulated by the members of Greco. On the other hand, a three-year plan to fight corruption was also unveiled Thursday 9 by the French government.
Publication of the first national multi-year plan to fight corruption 🇫🇷
To consult the press release of the ministers @justice_gouv and @Economie_Gouv as well as the complete press kit ➡️https: //t.co/muADhU5Fsq pic.twitter.com/WvXtAWWdBX
It is under the aegis of the Ministry of Justice and that of Public Accounts that the AFA (French anticorruption agency) the first three-year plan dedicated to the fight against corruption. For the 2019-2021 period, it provides advice, recommendations and training to follow. " It is good that there is a plan, a fairly strategic vision (...) now it is one thing to have a plan it is another to have an effective plan that is executed in the departments and the presidency, ”remarks Eric Alt. According to a 2018 AFA survey, only 7.3% of communities have implemented anti-corruption prevention measures, while 3.5% of public officials and 1.5% of elected officials have received training in the matter.
However, the plan has no sanctioning power for administrations and communities. “ We cannot force (administrations). We are not there to look for corruption, but to raise awareness. Each administration will then implement its actions ”, details Charles Duchaine, director of the AFA at RFI who will still be responsible for monitoring the progress of this plan and reporting the changes observed.
For his part, Eric Alt regrets one thing, that " the plan does not concern the presidency ". Same remark coming from the members of El Greco who recommend extending the latter to the office of the President of the Republic.
The independence of the judiciary
One of the last points raised by El Greco, which is not the least, is that of the independence of the judiciary in cases of corruption or conflicts of interest involving a member of the government. Referring to the fact that the ministers come under the specialized jurisdiction of the Court of Justice of the Republic (CJR), the authors of the report note a “ problematic ” situation. The court being composed of 15 juries, including 12 members of parliament, the Greco is concerned about this " composition likely to cast doubt on the independence and impartiality of this court ", believing that " policies are, at least partially , judged by their peers ”.
The leniency of the judgments rendered by the CJR is also questioned. " It is clear that, except for a recent decision, the jurisprudence of the CJR seems to show a certain leniency in the sanctions ", express the authors. In this sense, El Greco supports Emmanuel Macron's wish to abolish the CJR in the next constitutional reform so that members of the government are judged in an “ independent and impartial manner ”.
Police corruption
Last point addressed in the Greco evaluation, which concerns 6 recommendations out of 18: corruption in the field of police and gendarmerie. The report argues for " a comprehensive strategy dedicated to the prevention of corruption risks ", which should already be implemented with the three-year plan. In addition, the evaluation also offers security checks or the establishment of a " rotation system " in the sectors most susceptible to corruption such as the " DCPJ games and racing control service " .
► Also listen: Accents d'Europe - How to fight corruption effectively?