French Minister Sébastien Lecornu has ordered “unannounced, regular drug tests” in all ministries and for senior officials who decide on security-related dossiers, according to a directive signed in mid-June. The tests are carried out using saliva samples. If a result is positive, a urine and blood test will follow. Government employees will also be “systematically offered a referral to medical facilities.”
The measure was triggered by an incident shortly before Christmas, when a close advisor to Lecornu collapsed at a private party due to drug overdose. Lecornu dismissed the advisor. Additionally, another senior official, the finance chief of the Île-de-France region, was transferred after participating in chemsex orgies.
The debate over harsher penalties for drug users continues. Parliament passed a large-scale plan last spring aimed at preventing France from becoming a “narco-state.” Two lawmakers have proposed extending the random checks to parliamentarians. Patrick Martin, president of the employers’ association Medef, suggested introducing random drug tests in companies as well. Minister Lecornu has already undergone a test — it came back negative.
Source: www.faz.net
