CERBERUS 2026

EU Corruption Dashboard

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France

ISO: FR · Updated 2026-02-17 06:00 UTC by cloudbot (CERBERUS Daily Scan)

20

Cases

6

Periods

acquitted: 2ongoing: 7unknown: 7convicted: 2investigation: 2

BREAKING: February 2026(9)

🆕 France Hits Historic Low in TI Corruption Perceptions Index

February 10, 2026acquitted
  • Status: SYSTEMIC CONCERN Date: February 10, 2026
  • France dropped to — historic low score
  • Decline attributed to:
  • TI notes "sanctions enforcement challenges" and "growing risks of collusion between officials and private interests"

🆕 French Prosecutors Create Special Epstein Investigation Team

February 14-15, 2026ongoing
  • Paris prosecutor's office appointed magistrates to analyze Epstein files
  • Team to uncover possible offenses "particularly of a sexual or financial nature"
  • Will work closely with national financial crimes unit (PNF) and police
  • Aim: opening investigations into suspected crimes involving French nationals

🆕 French Diplomat Fabrice Aidan - Epstein Ties Probe

February 11, 2026ongoing
  • Former UN diplomat named 200+ times in Epstein files
  • Mediapart investigation revealed "staggering" transfer of UN documents
  • Foreign Minister referred case to prosecutors
  • Ordered internal inquiry, called revelations "extremely serious"

🆕 €10M Louvre Ticket Fraud - 9 Arrested

February 13, 2026ongoing
  • Status: ARRESTS MADE Date: February 13, 2026
  • French police arrested 9 people over suspected €10M Louvre ticket fraud
  • Charges include:
  • Additional charges: aiding illegal entry, use of forged administrative documents

🆕 France Drops to New Low on Corruption Index

February 10, 2026unknown
  • Status: SYSTEMIC CONCERN Date: February 10, 2026
  • France sank to new low in Transparency International's annual corruption index
  • "Democracy loses out" — notable scandals contributed to deterioration
  • among headline cases affecting perception

🆕 Marine Le Pen EU Funds Appeal Trial Concluding

February 11, 2026ongoing
  • Appeal trial over ending
  • Prosecutors seek
  • Prosecutors request 1 year house arrest with electronic tag
  • Alleged misappropriation between 2004-2016 as MEP

🆕 Paris Insider Trading Trial

February 12, 2026ongoing
  • Rare detailed trial exposing alleged mechanics of multi-million euro insider trade
  • Financial fraud prosecution in Paris courts
  • Source: Bloomberg (Feb 12, 2026)

🆕 Jack Lang Epstein Money Laundering Probe

February 7, 2026ongoing
  • Former Culture Minister from Institut du monde arabe
  • launched probe same day
  • Investigation into Jack Lang
  • Suspected

🆕 France-Romania €306M Money Laundering Bust

February 2026unknown
  • Status: ARRESTS MADE Date: February 2026
  • Joint French-Romanian operation
  • Criminal network accused of laundering
  • Proceeds from drug trafficking and other crimes

Pre-2000 (Historical)(3)

Mitterrand Era (1981-1995)

1981-1995convicted
  • 3,000+ illegal wiretaps ordered by Mitterrand. Came to court 2005, convictions 2008.
  • Socialist Party financing scandal through consulting firm
  • Development aid embezzlement
  • Illegal arms sales to Iran during Iran-Iraq war

Chirac Era (1995-2007)

1995-2007convicted
  • As mayor, Chirac created phantom municipal jobs to pay RPR party members. Convicted 2011.
  • Chirac accused of receiving ~€760,000 in cash kickbacks
  • PM Chirac & Interior Minister Pasqua implicated
  • Secret party funding schemes throughout 1990s

Paris Region Corruption (1980s-1990s)

unknown
  • Multiple corruption cases involving RPR (Rally for the Republic)
  • Massive kickback schemes for public contracts
  • Abuse of public money and resources

2000-2010(3)

Chirac Continued

investigation
  • Slush fund for political parties, African dictators
  • Various investigations blocked by presidential immunity until 2007

Sarkozy Era Begins (2007-)

2007unknown
  • Illegal campaign financing from L'Oréal heiress
  • Wiretapping allegations

Other Cases

unknown
  • False accusations against politicians using bank data

2010-2020(2)

Sarkozy Scandals

ongoing
  • Campaign overspending via fake invoices
  • €50M from Gaddafi regime
  • Corruption with judge

Other Major Cases

unknown
  • Budget Minister's secret Swiss bank account
  • PM candidate's fake jobs for wife (Penelopegate)
  • Macron security aide violence & cover-up

2020-Present(3)

Sarkozy Convictions

unknown
  • 1 year prison (bracelet) for corruption in wiretapping case
  • 5 years prison for criminal association (Libyan financing)

Current Cases (2026)

2026investigation
  • Large network dismantled via Tracfin
  • EU funds misuse verdict
  • Investigation extended to political influence peddling
  • Wife indicted in corruption probe

TI Ranking

acquitted
  • France dropped 5 places in Corruption Perception Index
  • TI urging urgent cross-party anti-corruption measures

Entity Profiles

L

Libya

foreign-state

unknown
FA

Fabrice Aidan

individual

under-investigation
JC

Jérôme Cahuzac

Former Budget Minister

convicted
FF

François Fillon

Former Prime Minister, Former Presidential Candidate

convicted
CL

Caroline Lang

individual

under-investigation
JL

Jack Lang

individual

under-investigation
MP

Marine Le Pen

individual

on-trial
NS

Nicolas Sarkozy

Former President of France (2007-2012)

convicted

Sources

  • Le Monde
  • Mediapart
  • France Culture
  • Canard Enchaîné
  • Wikipedia
  • Politico