A Reasoned Revolution

Most politicians enjoy vexing members of rival parties, and some even get a kick out of provoking allies by championing controversial positions. Arnaud Montebourg has managed to cheese off entire nations with his drive to make politicians more accountable. “My goal isn’t to infuriate our neighbors or create complications for my fellow politicians,” says the freshman legislator, who co-authored French parliamentary reports accusing authorities in Switzerland and Monaco of ignoring massive money laundering. “My goal is to denounce corrupt practices and rejuvenate a sclerotic and cynical political system. That at times infuriates our neighbors and complicates things for my fellow politicians.”

To break up France’s “electoral cronyism and duty-sapping careerism,” Montebourg wants to reform the legal structures of French democracy and government. First, he argues, legally binding term limits should be introduced to enhance “the turnover and circulation of the elected élite” and give younger politicians a chance. Second, new mechanisms must be found to ensure that politicians are held to the same laws as other citizens. “Without this, politicians enjoy a higher degree of impunity that encourages irresponsible behavior,” Montebourg says.

Montebourg’s critical reports of Monaco and Switzerland grew from his concern over corruption at home. “Dirty money has become one of the biggest political and social problems in France today,” he says. As examples of the malaise, Montebourg points to corruption cases involving the son of late President François Mitterrand and former Foreign Minister Roland Dumas, both fellow Socialists. Politicians from the right have not escaped his scrutiny either: Montebourg leads a move to overcome constitutional obstacles that impede investigation into President Jacques Chirac’s alleged involvement in illegal party financing.

Predictably, Montebourg’s high-profile efforts have drawn fire. Detractors on the right claim his real aim is to attack conservative foes under the cover of an anti-corruption campaign; leftist critics claim his ruthless dedication to principle makes him a modern Robespierre. Others say it’s all just publicity. But a growing number of voters applaud Montebourg’s efforts to return égalité et fraternité to France’s élitist political system.