Bruno Le Maire was heard this Thursday at the Assembly. At issue: the public deficit when he was Minister of Finance. And He got carried away by accusing the deputies of being hypocrites, with an unfortunate phrase: “Who are you to judge?”. For writer and publisher Arthur Chevallier, a minister should not say that.
A hearing in the Assembly is not a trial. Asking former ministers to account is the job of deputies. When they speak, it is the French who speak. So a little respect. In any case, in administration, the new fashion is that there is never anyone in charge. It's no one's fault and there is no sanction.
By nature, Bruno Le Maire is responsible for the failures of his administration. A minister is not just a politician, he is the head of an administration. So he is the one responsible. Generally speaking, there is a feeling of impunity in the administration.
Let’s take the example of Covid. First, there was no risk and supposedly we had plenty of masks. Finally, we were locked up for months and masks were imported from China at high prices. And what sanctions? Nothing. The Director General of Health even remained in office for two more years. He was given the Legion of Honor before leaving! Who can find this normal? We are among the madmen.
The clear opinion of Arthur Chevallier: Slippage/budget, Bruno Le Maire heard at the Assembly – 13/12
When Napoleon fired the Minister of the Treasury
At the end of the 18th century, the administration was in a pitiful state. Nothing works. Napoleon arrives and brings everyone to attention. He even sets up attendance sheets and all levels of administration must be accountable. Those primarily responsible are the ministers.
For example, the Minister of the Treasury, Barbé-Marbois, was suddenly fired because of… treasury errors, mismanagement and deficit. When Napoleon summons him to fire him, the minister defends himself, replies that he has done nothing illegal… Napoleon replies: “It's even worse. Roguery (dishonesty, if you prefer) has limits, stupidity has none. It wasn't the same atmosphere as today.
At the time, it was not a democracy like today. But the principle is the same: accountability. The accountability of ministers to Parliament emerged at the beginning of the 1830s. It's simple: ministers are responsible to elected officials because they are paid for work. Since the Third Republic, it has been a constitutional principle. Remembering it doesn't hurt.
Ministers should be judged on their results, and not just on their goodwill. And if we do that, the ministers will also do it with their administration. Everything will be better. This is what all French people experience in their daily work. If we do something stupid, we are sanctioned and sometimes fired. Why would it be like that for everyone, except for administrations?
