FRANCE: Two bills proposed by MP attack on consultative democracy and organised civil society
French MP Anne-Laure Blin, from the conservative Republicans party, submitted two legislative proposals in November 2025 to parliament. Bill n° 2083 aims at reducing the powers of state agencies, including the National Commission for Public Debate and the Regional Economic, Social and Environmental Councils, two consultative bodies that enable citizen participation in decision-making by representing them. According to the proposal, these consultative bodies increase public spending but do not guarantee improvements in public services.
The other proposal, bill n° 2084, aims at reducing the number of state advisory bodies and targets in particular the High Council for Associative Life, a consultative body responsible for formulating proposals relating to the financing, operation, and organisation of associations, and the French Chamber of Social and Solidarity Economy, an association representing the social and solidarity economy sector. The proposals constitute a new attack on intermediary bodies and consultative democracy, and risk undermining public participation in decision-making for organised civil society.