MPs face fines for absenteeism
Pro-democracy group says 93 MPs owe almost €250,000 between them for missing important meetings without excuse
ALMOST 100 French MPs are facing fines totalling a quarter of a million euros for failing to turn up to meetings in parliament, new research has claimed.
Political accountability group Regards Citoyens, which runs the MP information site NosDeputes.fr, has published a list of 93 politicians it believes are at risk of a fine for missing meetings for committees on which they sit.
Since 2008, new absenteeism rules allow for MPs who do not turn up without a valid reason to be fined.
According to Regards Citoyens, the worst performance came from independent Somme MP François-Xavier Villain, who missed 17 meetings in seven months and could have to pay €2,119.
Other absentees included Communist MP Marie-George Buffet and UMP politician David Douillet, who face fines of between €1,000 and €1,400.
Added up, the 93 MPs' fines total almost €250,000, according to the site.
National Assembly president Bernard Accoyer said the findings were inaccurate and failed to take into account illness and other valid reasons for absence.
Some MPs have argued that the absenteeism rules are unfair and too strict, as they only take into account presence at committee meetings, regardless of other elements of an MP's workload.
Photo: National Assembly by David Monniaux
