In an editorial, Gaëtan de Capèle calls for a profound overhaul of the French public sector, as digitization and artificial intelligence reshape private industry. He highlights the relentless rise in public spending and uncontrollable debt, noting the lack of significant reforms for decades.
Gaëtan de Capèle, in his editorial published on February 10, 2026, in Le Figaro, portrays France as suffering from an “administrative embolism.” In the era of economic digitization and the emergence of artificial intelligence, which are disrupting productivity and work organization in the private sector, he argues that the time has come for a major reassessment in the public service.
Amélie de Montchalin, who will assume the presidency of the Cour des comptes, will find stacks of reports there detailing an “inexorable flight forward” in public spending, an endless drift in deficits, and an explosion of debt “hors de contrôle.” These reports recommend savings in the social sphere, such as health and pensions, tracking waste nationwide, and tightening controls in the public function.
De Capèle notes that, despite these repeated warnings, few reforms have been implemented. The only notable exception was the non-replacement of one in two retiring civil servants under Nicolas Sarkozy. He urges the new president to commission fresh reports, which will undoubtedly reach the same conclusions, to ensure better use of public funds.
This call comes amid ongoing budgetary concerns in France, where the Cour des comptes plays a key oversight role.
