Eric Coquerel, the head of the National Assembly’s Finance Committee, publicly asked President Emmanuel Macron to rethink the upcoming appointment of Amélie de Montchalin as president of the Cour des comptes. Coquerel argues that the role demands strict neutrality and independence, qualities he fears could be compromised.
In a calm yet firm post on X, Coquerel wrote that he “solicitously requests the Head of State to reconsider the nomination of Amélie de Montchalin,” stressing that the decision should protect public confidence in the institution.
Montchalin, currently minister of public accounts, has spent months steering the 2026 budget through parliament. Critics say her recent involvement in drafting the budget could create a conflict of interest when she later judges it as Cour des comptes president.
François Ruffin, former LFI deputy, mocked the situation, suggesting that after years of defending the public deficit, Montchalin might be “well‑placed to comment on the very budget she helped shape.”
On the right, RN vice‑president Sébastien Chenu condemned what he described as a “Macronist lock‑in of institutional bodies,” labeling the move a democratic scandal. Former UDR member Eric Ciotti echoed the concern, noting Montchalin’s age of 40 and the lifetime nature of the Cour des comptes post as problematic.
Defending the choice, Economy Minister Roland Lescure praised Montchalin’s energy and competence, pointing to the current Cour president Pierre Moscovici’s own history as a former finance minister as evidence that political experience can coexist with independence.
National Assembly president Yaël Braun‑Pivet welcomed the historic appointment of a woman to the 200‑year‑old court, dismissing conflict‑of‑interest worries as “not a subject” once the necessary competencies are in place.
The nomination is slated for discussion at the upcoming cabinet meeting, with the political debate highlighting broader questions about the separation between legislative responsibilities and oversight roles in French government.