A new report has raised alarms about the rising corruption in France, highlighting the increasing involvement of government officials in criminal cases. According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, France dropped five places in 2024, now ranking 25th, a significant fall from its previous standing.
This marks a historic decline for the country, as it had maintained a stable position in the index since its inception in 1995.
The report ties the country’s corruption problems to the political environment under President Emmanuel Macron, pointing to a surge in integrity violations, especially within the ranks of public officials. Since Macron’s election in 2017, 26 ministers have faced legal or political charges, a clear departure from his earlier promise to prioritize integrity and ethics in government. This has led to widespread disillusionment among the French people, who now see a troubling pattern of impunity among their leaders.
Recent events only reinforce these findings. Former President Nicolas Sarkozy is currently on trial, accused of accepting illegal payments from Libya to fund his 2007 campaign. Despite his denials, the evidence against him is mounting, and Sarkozy has been forced to wear an electronic bracelet following a separate conviction. Meanwhile, Macron’s appointment of Richard Ferrand to the Constitutional Council, despite Ferrand’s past involvement in a corruption case, has further tarnished the president’s image. Ferrand was acquitted due to the statute of limitations, but his association with the scandal continues to haunt Macron’s administration.
The corruption issue isn’t limited to high-ranking officials. France also struggles with “low-intensity” corruption, where everyday civil servants—such as police officers—use their positions for personal gain. These acts, often involving bribery or tampering with official documents, are harder to detect but remain widespread.
Interestingly, European institutions, which have been vocal about alleged corruption in Hungary and Poland, have remained unusually quiet about France’s growing issues.
