Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint Amélie de Montchalin, current Minister of Public Accounts, as First President of the Cour des comptes, succeeding Pierre Moscovici. This decision, announced on February 12, 2026, draws criticism for being transgressive against Fifth Republic traditions. At 40 years old, the appointee could still pursue major political roles, creating tension between the executive and the oversight institution.
The appointment of Amélie de Montchalin to head the Cour des comptes was revealed by Le Figaro on February 12, 2026, during a ceremony at the Élysée where Emmanuel Macron decorated several figures, including former ministers Olivier Dussopt and Stanislas Guerini. Aged 40 and an HEC graduate, Montchalin will succeed Pierre Moscovici as First President of this financial oversight institution. The announcement caused a stir among guests, including the appointee herself, who was present but left quickly.
Le Monde describes this decision as transgressive, breaking the tradition of appointing septuagenarians at the end of their careers, « having nothing to fear or hope for », according to former Constitutional Council President Laurent Fabius. Recently, Montchalin defended the 2026 budget before the National Assembly, and she will now judge the accounts she helped establish, highlighting an unprecedented tension between the executive and the Cour des comptes.
Oppositions criticize this promotion, and quiet questions arise in the senior civil service. Amid upcoming renewals of key positions at the Conseil d'État and Banque de France before the 2027 presidential election, some see it as an attempt to lock in the « deep state ». The Élysée defends it as the exercise of the president's institutional prerogatives. This appointment comes as the Rassemblement national rises ahead of 2027, which some say weakens institutions.
