The French government unveiled a new bill on Tuesday, October 14, to combat fiscal and social frauds. This text, approved at the first cabinet meeting under new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, is sparking heated debates. It aims to adapt existing tools against innovative fraudsters, as the executive hunts for tens of billions of euros to balance the budget.
After several failed attempts, the French government is pushing forward with a new bill to combat social and fiscal frauds, unveiled on Tuesday, October 14. Deemed significant by new Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, the text was approved at his first cabinet meeting. It supplements the state and social security budgets amid Matignon's search for tens of billions of euros to close the accounts.
The statement of reasons declares: "Frauds against public finances constitute a direct attack on the republican pact." The bill aims to "adapt our arsenal against fraudsters who renew their methods" and seeks to "scale up by strengthening existing tools and intensifying their use."
Far from consensual, the text is seen as decisive by some, libertarian and anti-poor by others, and minor by yet others. It could spark major political battles through the autumn and winter of 2026, with parliamentary debate ahead. Economists, however, doubt the credibility of recovering the billions of euros dreamed of by the executive and the RN.