France Appoints Vallaud-Belkacem to Senior Audit Role Amid Accusations of Political Deal
On July 16, during the weekly cabinet meeting, the government officially named her senior advisor at the Court of Audit, following a proposal from Prime Minister Gabriel Attal.
The timing of the decision and the circumstances surrounding it have sparked criticism and fueled doubts over political motives.
Just a few days earlier, the former minister suggested she was preparing for a competitive exam to reach the post. Her sudden arrival at the highest level has prompted questions.
For many in the opposition, the move looks less like a result of merit and more like a convenient gesture. Thomas Ménagé, a member of parliament from the far-right National Rally, wrote on social media, 'Congratulations to Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, who joins the Court of Audit directly at the top rank after passing an exam that does not exist.'
Vallaud-Belkacem, who previously served as minister of education, rejected any suggestion of favoritism. 'Not very hard to find out that I voluntarily used the exam path,' she wrote on the social media platform X. In a sharper tone, she added, 'Keep throwing dirt, something always sticks.'
Pierre Moscovici, president of the Court of Audit, came to her defense. A former minister himself, he insisted the procedure followed proper protocol and was overseen by an independent commission. 'I am not her friend,' he said. 'I was her colleague.'
The appointment lands as the government faces one of its most difficult political moments.
François Bayrou is trying to push through an ambitious savings plan worth €43.8 billion.
The proposal includes unpopular measures such as freezing social welfare payments and cancelling public holidays. With pressure mounting in parliament, the executive appears to need support, or silence, from the socialists.
For Vallaud-Belkacem, the new position marks a return to public office. For her critics, it raises old suspicions about how power moves in Paris. Tags: FranceFrance economyNajat Vallaudpolitics
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