Claire Thoury Campaigns to Transform Cese and Restore Trust in Civil Society Engagement

Claire Thoury, sociologist and president of the Mouvement associatif representing 700,000 French associations, is a candidate for the presidency of the Conseil économique, social et environnemental (Cese), an advisory body central to government dialogue with civil society. The Cese presidency election is scheduled for May 20, where Thoury will face Dominique Carlac’h, a Medef executive council member.

Thoury stresses the vital role of the Cese in fostering dialogue on pressing societal issues such as transport accessibility, healthcare, and housing. However, she highlights a significant challenge: only 33% of French citizens trust the Cese, signaling a broader crisis of confidence in political institutions, according to a 2026 Opinionway survey. She critiques political powers for insufficiently leveraging the organized civil society and advocates for increased Cese visibility and engagement in public debates.

Supported by various associations and unions, except the CFTC and Solidaires, Thoury emphasizes collaboration and readiness to serve if elected. She calls for reinforcing the Cese's role as a bridge between government and citizens to address societal challenges effectively.

Her candidacy underscores the need to reinvigorate advisory bodies to regain public trust and strengthen democratic participation through organized civil society engagement.