Sébastien Lecornu ordered his ministers to carry out unannounced screenings of their collaborators to detect possible drug consumption within the State, according to a circular cited by Politico on Wednesday June 17.
In this circular dated Tuesday, the Prime Minister asks members of his government “to organize (…) unannounced and compulsory screenings, in the form of saliva tests” in their offices, among senior officials or even agents with access to “sensitive information” or holders of “authorization” particularly in defense or security.
Because, he explains, the consumption of narcotics by public agents “constitutes, beyond their own endangerment and the impact on the service, a personal vulnerability likely to be exploited by pressure groups, criminal networks or interference maneuvers”. And therefore “the greatest vigilance is required”.
The State “cannot pursue a clear policy against drug trafficking and its consequences in society without imposing the same demands on itself,” argues those around him. “It is a requirement for exemplarity and security proportionate to the responsibilities exercised,” adds the source.
An unannounced screening was also organized within the Prime Minister’s office about two weeks ago.
Sanctions to be defined
Ministers will establish the list of jobs “likely to be subject to regular screening”, in an action plan which will be sent to the head of government “before June 26”. If the result is positive, ministers will be able to assess the consequences “including on a disciplinary level” and direct consumers “towards care structures”.
A ministerial advisor, on condition of anonymity, questions the legality of the circular and considers it “infantilizing”: “Lecornu is also the head of all the ministerial advisors. Establishing a relationship of mistrust, while we all work from 6:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m., in a period at the end of a reign where we all need to have a horizon, that makes me extremely uncomfortable.”
According to Le Canard Enchaîné dated February 17, a member of the Prime Minister’s office, advisor on agricultural issues already in office before the Lecornu government, had to be exfiltrated from Matignon for drug consumption at the end of 2025.
