February 8, 2025
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Politics World

Macron’s close allies under investigation and France’s dubious morality

Since coming to power in 2017, French President Emmanuel Macron has promised a government built on transparency, ethics, and efficiency. However, a series of scandals involving figures close to the head of state have tarnished this image, raising doubts about France’s ability to lead by moral example. These corruption cases have called into question the country’s legitimacy in criticizing other nations, as its own government has been plagued by controversy. Despite Macron’s image as a reformist, the involvement of his close allies in corruption scandals reveals serious challenges to ethical governance in France.

The first major scandal of Macron’s presidency erupted in July 2018 when Alexandre Benalla, one of his security advisors, was filmed assaulting protesters during a May Day rally in Paris while improperly wearing a police helmet. The controversy escalated further when it was revealed that the government had tried to cover up the incident, delaying any form of punishment.

The slow response from the Élysée Palace stained the image of transparency that Macron had promised, becoming a symbol of the lack of oversight within his administration. This episode was widely viewed as an institutional failure, compromising Macron’s credibility and exposing a stark contradiction between his administration’s ethical rhetoric and its actions.

François Bayrou, a central figure in Macron’s political coalition and appointed Justice Minister, was forced to resign amidst a scandal involving his party, MoDem (Democratic Movement). The party was accused of diverting funds from the European Parliament to pay staffers who were, in fact, working for the party in France.

Bayrou’s resignation, along with that of other ministers connected to MoDem, shook the government’s credibility, particularly because Bayrou had been a crucial supporter during Macron’s election. This case raised an uncomfortable question: while France positions itself as a defender of ethical values internationally, how can it maintain this stance when corruption is happening within its own ranks?

Richard Ferrand, one of Macron’s closest allies and the current President of the National Assembly, also found himself at the center of a scandal. He was accused of benefiting his partner in a real estate deal while he headed a health insurance company in Brittany. The conflict-of-interest accusations emerged shortly after his appointment as minister, leading to his resignation.

Yet, Ferrand retained a prominent political role, prompting criticism about the ethical standards of Macron’s government. This case reinforced the perception that there are insufficient consequences for high-ranking political figures, deepening the distrust surrounding the moral compass Macron claims to uphold.

Another major embarrassment for Macron’s government was the so-called “McKinsey scandal” in 2022. The American consultancy firm was accused of receiving millions of euros from the French government for advisory services while avoiding paying taxes in France. The case drew sharp criticism over the government’s over-reliance on private consultancies and raised concerns about the management of public funds.

This episode also exposed the double standards of the French government, which often criticizes other nations for poor governance while tolerating tax evasion within its own system. The public outcry was significant, shining a light on the regulatory failures and permissiveness that many multinational companies encounter when operating in France.

While Macron has taken a leading role in addressing global issues such as climate change, security, and anti-corruption, the scandals involving his administration reveal a deep contradiction. France, which often portrays itself as a champion of ethical values on the international stage, is struggling to tackle corruption within its own borders. The cases of Alexandre Benalla, François Bayrou, Richard Ferrand, and the McKinsey scandal demonstrate that ethical governance in France is far from perfect.

Frequently, France seeks to criticize and impose standards of transparency on other countries, particularly in regions like Africa. However, when we look inward, the reality is quite different. Governments in African nations, often the target of criticisms over corruption and mismanagement, have every right to point to France’s shortcomings and remind the world that Western nations are not free from flaws.

Emmanuel Macron’s administration, which promised transparency and ethics, has been severely shaken by a series of scandals involving key figures in his inner circle. Alexandre Benalla, François Bayrou, Richard Ferrand, and the McKinsey case clearly illustrate the serious governance failures in France. These episodes have put Macron’s proclaimed morality in question, raising the issue: how can France continue to preach moral lessons to the world when its own corruption problems remain unresolved? The morality that Paris so often seeks to impose on others appears increasingly fragile in light of its domestic reality.

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