Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said several government employees were dismissed after positive results from surprise saliva-based drug tests ordered in mid‑June for ministers' staff and senior civil servants. The tests targeted personnel with security clearance or access to sensitive information, and ministers were asked to consider disciplinary measures for positives. Lecornu said the programme aims to shore up security and the government's credibility in its anti‑drug campaign; random testing will continue. TF1 reported that tests at the Hôtel de Matignon found Lecornu and his immediate staff negative.
French Government Dismisses Staff After Surprise Saliva Drug Tests, Prime Minister Says
FILE PHOTO - Sebastien Lecornu, now France's prime minister, giving a press statement in the historic town hall of Osnabrueck when he was serving as defence minister. (is associated with: «French government employees sacked after failing drug tests») Moritz Frankenberg/dpa
Several employees of the French government were dismissed after returning positive results in a new saliva-based drug screening programme for ministers' teams and senior civil servants, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said.
Why the Tests Were Ordered
In mid‑June, Lecornu ordered surprise, mandatory saliva drug tests for government members, senior officials and personnel holding security clearances. He said the measure was primarily a security decision: many of those tested had access to "extremely sensitive" information and the presence of drugs among such staff posed a risk to national security.
"Many people say I did this to set an example. That's true. But I did it primarily for security reasons," Lecornu told Paris Match.
Consequences and Intent
The directive instructed ministers to assess the consequences of any positive results, including the possibility of disciplinary action. Lecornu framed the programme as part of a broader effort to strengthen the government's credibility in combating drug-related crime, calling the drug trade "the greatest domestic challenge [France] currently faces and will face in the coming years." He also told the magazine he estimated France has nearly 1 million drug users and stressed that drug use "affects every part of society," including politicians.
Lecornu said the testing will continue on a random basis rather than being a one-off operation.
According to broadcaster TF1, surprise tests were recently conducted at the Hôtel de Matignon, the prime minister's official residence and offices; Lecornu and his immediate staff reportedly tested negative.
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