Wise Men not so Wise: Investigation into the Constitutional Council

The nine ＂Wise Men＂ (called ＂Sages＂ in France) of the Constitutional Council are responsible for censoring legislation that does not comply with the Constitution. Yet the presidents of the Republic, the Senate and the Assembly legally appoint these judges for nine non-renewable years, without requiring the slightest competence or experience. Welcome to the madhouse!

These nine septuagenarians are former politicians or senior civil servants appointed simply for political cronyism. In fact, the work of these ＂Wise Men＂ is carried out discreetly by a dozen or so competent and experienced senior civil servants. This ＂stiflers’ club＂ imposes a terrible silence, from both right and left, on.

For the sake of convenience, journalists and humorists have dubbed them the ＂Wise Men＂ ever since General de Gaulle created the Council. This label is an illusion, a chimera. It masks the incredible and multiple dysfunctions of a veritable sinecure.

Our investigation reveals that 56% of the ＂Wise Men’s＂ remuneration is illegal. It depends on the executive, which in turn produces the majority of the laws examined by the Council. When, at any time, the State can withdraw this illegal allowance, what independence and impartiality can we expect from those who are supposed to be the guarantors of the Constitution, the rule of law and French freedoms?