Inquiry Commissions in French National Assembly: Tools for Oversight or Political Manipulation?
The rise in inquiry commissions in France’s National Assembly raises concerns over their political misuse.
Key Points
- • Eleven inquiry commissions established since July 2024.
- • Concerns about commissions being politically motivated.
- • Increase linked to 2008 constitutional reforms.
- • Prominent figures advocate for limiting political misuse.
The frequency of inquiry commissions in the French National Assembly has surged since the start of the 17th legislature in July 2024, with eleven commissions already established. This trend has sparked significant concern among lawmakers regarding the potential for these bodies to be used as instruments of political maneuvering rather than as genuine mechanisms of oversight.
Yaël Braun-Pivet, the President of the National Assembly, has voiced apprehensions about the misuse of these commissions for political agendas, emphasizing that they must not become platforms for political attacks. This current increase is particularly striking when compared to previous terms; only 19 commissions were created during the last legislature and 25 during Emmanuel Macron's first term in office.
The observed uptick in commissions correlates with the constitutional reform of 2008, which enabled parliamentary groups to initiate inquiries more easily—an aspect reflected in the existing composition of the Assembly with eleven groups, out of which eight belong to the opposition. Some of these groups have already proposed commissions to probe various pressing issues, including public health and nuclear policy. However, certain proposals, such as the Republicans' inquiry into links between political figures and extremist organizations, have been rejected as inadmissible.
Critics, spanning various political factions, assert that the nature of some inquiries has veered away from objective investigation towards overt partisanship. Instances have been reported where members of these commissions act more like prosecutors than neutral adjudicators. Prominent political figures, including Marine Le Pen and Marc Fesneau, have called for measures to prevent these bodies from being exploited for political advantage.
This ongoing debate over the function and appropriateness of inquiry commissions is not without precedent. Historical controversies, such as those surrounding the Cahuzac and Benalla affairs, highlight similar concerns regarding the politicization of these commissions. As the current National Assembly grapples with this dynamic, the challenge remains to ensure that legislative oversight is effectively maintained without succumbing to the temptations of political exploitation.