Corruption in France describes the prevention and occurrence ofcorruption inFrance.
France has ratified several important international anti-corruption conventions such as the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions and the United Nations Convention against Corruption. In general, investors do not consider corruption a problem for doing business in France, and companies operating in France generally have a good reputation forcorporate social responsibility.[1]
The French National Assembly have passed two bills for combatingtax evasion. However, in recent years there have been several corruption scandals involving high-ranking public officials. Public works and the defence industry are considered the most affected by corruption.[2]
Transparency International's 2024Corruption Perceptions Index scored France at 67 on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"). When ranked by score, France ranked 25th among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector.[3] For comparison with regional scores, the best score among Western European and European Union countries[Note 1] was 90, the average score was 64 and the worst score was 41.[4] For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90 (ranked 1), the average score was 43, and the worst score was 8 (ranked 180).[5]
In 2011, Transparency International concluded in its annual report 2011 that France does not do enough to stop corruption.[6] ATNS Sofres poll in October 2011 indicated that 72% of the French public had the perception that politicians are corrupt.[7]
In France, in 2009 all major foreign investors and exporters and more than 80 per cent of surveyed executives admitted to 'not being familiar at all' with one of the most important legal frameworks in global business. A cartel constitutes a crime punishable by imprisonment and/or fines. Staff and budgets for public enforcement of securities regulation was one third in France compared to the UK in 2008.[8]
Political corruption studies include the presidential campaign 2007 finance investigation in the value of €150,000 fromLiliane Bettencourt toNicolas Sarkozy. The maximum individual support is €4,600.Jacques Chirac was accused of using public funds for his election campaign in Paris in the 1990s.[9] On 15 December 2011, Chirac was found guilty and given a suspended sentence of two years.[10] He was convicted of diverting public funds, abuse of trust and illegal conflict of interest.
The suspended sentence meant he did not have to go to prison and took account of his age, health, and status as a former head of state.[11] He did not attend his trial since medical doctors deemed that his neurological problems damaged his memory.[10]
Bribery investigations spanning from Africa to France are ongoing, including allegations involving Jacques Chirac, Dominique de Villepin, and Jean-Marie Le Pen, who were allegedly linked to bribery claims made by former Gabonese President Omar Bongo. In September 2011, Bernard Granié was tried for accepting a €300,000 bribe from Provence Recyclage.[9]
Alstom has been under investigation inFrance andSwitzerland for allegedly making improper payments of US$200 million for contracts for Brazil's Itá hydroelectric plant, for São Paulo's subway expansion and for other major works in Venezuela, Singapore and Indonesia. The Mexican government has penalised Alstom and in 2007 the European Commission's antitrust authority fined Alstom €65 million for price fixing with competitors.[8]
In 2021, former presidentNicolas Sarkozy was convicted of corruption in two separate trials.
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