Macron Faces Criticism Over Appointment of Budget Minister to Head France’s Audit Body
French President Emmanuel Macron is facing accusations of political maneuvering after nominating Budget Minister Amélie de Montchalin to lead the Cour des Comptes, France’s top audit body. The decision, announced on Wednesday, has sparked outcry from opposition politicians who claim Macron is attempting to secure his political legacy by placing allies in key institutions.
The Cour des Comptes plays a crucial role in overseeing public finances, evaluating government policies, and auditing state and local authorities. While its reports are not legally binding, the institution provides vital oversight and informs parliament, the government, and the public about the regularity of accounts.
Critics argue that appointing de Montchalin, a long-standing Macron ally, compromises the independence of the Cour des Comptes, particularly given her potential to hold the position until her mandatory retirement at age 68. Concerns have also been raised that Macron is strategically positioning loyalists within national institutions to safeguard his influence beyond his presidential term, which ends in 2027.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused Macron of attempting to “place his loyalists in positions of power and disrupt the future democratic transition.”
Potential Conflict of Interest
A central point of contention is the potential conflict of interest inherent in de Montchalin’s appointment. As the outgoing budget minister, she will be tasked with auditing the very budgets she helped create.
“How can the current minister give a credible opinion on the budget that she herself prepared?” asked Éric Coquerel, president of the National Assembly’s finance committee, who has been engaged in ongoing debates with de Montchalin over the 2026 finance bill.
Andrew W M Smith, a historian of modern France at Queen Mary University, London, explained that the controversy stems from “de Montchalin’s proximity to power, and the difficulty that others perceive in her remaining independent in her assessment of that power.” He added that her career has been closely tied to Macron since she was first elected in 2017.
While the head of the Cour des Comptes cannot outright reject a budget, they can scrutinize it and raise concerns about discrepancies.
A Broader Trend of Appointments
De Montchalin’s appointment is seen by some as part of a wider pattern of Macron filling key positions with political allies. In March, Macron appointed Richard Ferrand, a former secretary of his Renaissance party, to lead the Conseil Constitutionnel, France’s highest constitutional authority. Ferrand’s appointment was approved by a narrow parliamentary majority.
both the governor of the Bank of France and the vice-president of France’s supreme administrative court, the Conseil d’État, are expected to step down in 2026, giving Macron further opportunities to influence these institutions.
François Villeroy de Galhau, the outgoing governor of the Bank of France, recently emphasized the importance of maintaining the central bank’s political independence.
Paul Smith, head of the department of Modern Languages at the University of Nottingham, UK, noted that Macron’s appointments are not entirely surprising, given his relative newness to holding office. “Notice no Macronist veterans. He doesn’t have a big reserve into which he can dig,” he said.
Several of Macron’s former prime ministers, including Edouard Philippe and Gabriel Attal, are now focused on their own presidential ambitions. This context suggests that appointing loyalists to key institutional roles is a strategic move, though some view it as cynical.
Despite the controversy, de Montchalin has received praise from some parliamentarians, including members of the opposition, for her skills, experience, and constructive approach. Paul Smith noted that “nobody doubts her capacity as an economist.”
However, Andrew W M Smith cautioned that if Macron were to appoint a third or fourth loyalist to a key position, it could raise serious questions about the independence of these institutions.
