France’s deliberately opaque expenses system means that it is paying more than its neighbours for MPs: but this may be about to change

In 2009, the UK government was rocked by a scandal over its MPs’ expenses. According to Rainbow Murray, France is now due a similar scandal, as MPs’ expenses are not currently scrutinised, and many hold multiple offices (and draw multiple salaries). While the new Socialist government is taking measures to address these problems, it remains to be seen if they will be truly effective in reforming French MPs’ culture of entitlement.