France’s Council of Ministers on 16 July appointed former Socialist minister Najat Vallaud-Belkacem as a conseillère maître at the Cour des comptes, the country’s top public-spending watchdog, on the recommendation of Prime Minister François Bayrou. Court president Pierre Moscovici said the post was filled through an open call that attracted 150 applications for five senior positions. Twenty-eight candidates were interviewed by a six-member independent panel, and Moscovici said he recused himself from the final deliberation to avoid any perception of favoritism toward his former cabinet colleague. Opposition politicians, led by the Rassemblement National, allege the move is a political favour because Vallaud-Belkacem is married to Socialist group leader Boris Vallaud. RN lawmakers said they will petition the Conseil d’État to void what they call a “copinage” appointment. The controversy erupts just as Bayrou seeks parliamentary support for a 2026 austerity budget that aims to cut spending by €43.8 billion and faces the threat of a no-confidence motion. Critics claim the nomination is meant to soften Socialist resistance, a charge denied by Bayrou, Moscovici and Vallaud-Belkacem.