François de Rugy, Speaker of the National Assembly, was furious when only 147 of France’s 577 MPs turned up to welcome his German counterpart, Wolfgang Schauble, to parliament
In many countries around the world, members of the National Assembly are hardly known for hardwork. This has often made it difficult to know who is doing what and when.
Now, it appears that French MPs face fines for failing to attend parliament under a plan to restore the battered reputation of the country’s political class.
François de Rugy, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the lower house, has blasted “persistent offenders in absenteeism.”
In a country where parliamentarians are not known for their assiduity, officials were granted powers to fine serial absentees decades ago. However, no Speaker would dare penalise MPs, for fear of political ostracism.
Now, it appears that French MPs face fines for failing to attend parliament under a plan to restore the battered reputation of the country’s political class.
François de Rugy, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the lower house, has blasted “persistent offenders in absenteeism.”
In a country where parliamentarians are not known for their assiduity, officials were granted powers to fine serial absentees decades ago. However, no Speaker would dare penalise MPs, for fear of political ostracism.
Francois de Rugy
