Paris, July 22, (dpa/GNA) – Several French government employees have been dismissed, after testing positive for drugs under a new screening programme for ministers’ staff and senior civil servants, Prime Minister SĂ©bastien Lecornu said.
“Many people say I did this to set an example,” Lecornu told Paris Match in an interview published on Wednesday. “That’s true. But I did it primarily for security reasons.” He said many of the employees who were tested, had access to “extremely sensitive” information.
In mid-June, Lecornu ordered surprise mandatory saliva-based drug tests for members of the government, senior officials and other personnel subject to security clearance. The directive instructed ministers to assess the consequences of any positive results, including possible disciplinary action.
Lecornu said the measures were also intended to bolster the government’s credibility in its campaign against drug-related crime. The drug trade is the “greatest domestic challenge France currently faces and will face in the coming years,” he told Paris Match, estimating that France has nearly 1 million drug users. “It affects every part of society,” he said, adding that politicians were not immune.
The government’s anti-drug campaign could only remain credible if those leading it were beyond reproach, Lecornu said. Lecornu said the testing programme would continue on a random basis rather than being a one-off measure.
French broadcaster TF1 said surprise drug tests, were also carried out at the HĂ´tel de Matignon, the prime minister’s official residence and offices, several weeks ago.
Lecornu and his staff all tested negative, the broadcaster reported.
GNA