Xavier Bertrand

A preliminary investigation was opened following suspicions involving three regional elected representatives linked to hunters' federations, who were accused of participating in votes granting subsidies to organisations with which they were themselves associated.

State of the evidence

Documented

Lille prosecutors opened an investigation in 2020 into embezzlement of public funds concerning approximately €15,300 in expenditure relating to three seminars of the LR–UDI majority on the regional council, paid for by the Region. The complainants maintained that certain party-political expenses should have been charged to the political group's budget.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

In May 2020, Hauts-de-France purchased three million masks from AMG Pro for €2.25 million excluding VAT. A Mediacités investigation revealed that approximately €600,000 had been paid to intermediaries, some belonging to networks close to Xavier Bertrand's security arrangements. A preliminary investigation was opened following a referral.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The Region awarded €170,000 over three years to Fédération Stop Éoliennes Hauts-de-France, established a few months earlier and politically supported by Xavier Bertrand's executive. The Lille Administrative Court annulled the resolution on 31 March 2026.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Two months after the previous grant was annulled, the Hauts-de-France standing committee voted another €50,000 grant to the same Fédération Stop Éoliennes. The environmentalist opposition announced a new legal challenge.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

The Hauts-de-France initial 2026 budget was based on debt approaching €4 billion and a projected debt repayment period of 11.6 years. Mediacités presented this ratio as particularly high compared with other regions.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Direct responsibility

On 27 August 2026, Xavier Bertrand confirmed that he would stand in the 2027 presidential election, replying "I will". He also rejected the idea of a primary involving the right and centre, although other figures within his camp continued to support one.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

Xavier Bertrand actively supported the approach targeting Lycée Averroès when the state terminated its association contract. In April 2025, the Lille Administrative Court annulled the termination, finding, in particular, that several serious alleged failures had not been sufficiently demonstrated.

State of the evidence

Documented

Successive reviews criticised the effectiveness and oversight of regional policies associated with Xavier Bertrand. The Court of Auditors considered mobility assistance for jobseekers numerous, fragmented and difficult to access; in 2025, the Regional Audit Chamber also recommended clearer objectives and indicators for general mobility policy.

State of the evidence

Documented

Under Xavier Bertrand's presidency, the Region suspended payment of the external operating grant to the Muslim Lycée Averroès in Lille. In 2022, the administrative court ordered the authority to pay more than €500,000, described by other sources as close to €600,000. The Council of State subsequently confirmed the payment obligation in another aspect of the proceedings.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

After Éric Ciotti announced an electoral agreement with Rassemblement national for the snap legislative elections, Xavier Bertrand demanded his resignation and expulsion from LR, calling it "betrayal" and "collaboration with the far right".

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

Xavier Bertrand stated that François Bayrou had offered him the Justice Ministry before reversing the appointment "because of opposition from Rassemblement national". He then rejected other portfolios and denounced a government formed with Marine Le Pen's approval.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

Under Xavier Bertrand's presidency, several local investigations described a strong increase in hunters' representatives' influence within regional biodiversity bodies and higher grants to them, while certain environmental organisations saw their subsidies reduced or eliminated.

State of the evidence

Documented

Victor Castanet's investigation into Orpea reported testimony from executives describing privileged relations with Xavier Bertrand when he was Health Minister and interventions intended to facilitate certain care home projects. Castanet discussed these alleged relationships during his parliamentary hearing.

State of the evidence

Allegations

Attribution

Directly implicated

Following Laurent Wauquiez's election as leader of Les Républicains in December 2017, Xavier Bertrand left LR "definitively", condemning a drift towards the far right. In 2021, he eventually rejoined LR to participate in the party's presidential nomination congress.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

In his 2022 campaign, Xavier Bertrand proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 15, introducing automatic minimum sentences for repeat offenders, building 20,000 prison places and allowing criminal fines to be deducted from salaries or certain social benefits, including RSA.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

Xavier Bertrand made immigration a central theme of his 2022 programme, proposing an annual admissions cap approved by Parliament and restoring "double punishment" to expel convicted foreigners after serving their sentences. He also claimed that uncontrolled immigration acted as a "breeding ground for terrorism".

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Personally implicated

Following the Mediator scandal, Xavier Bertrand acknowledged a degree of political responsibility as former Health Minister before the Senate, stating that "the minister is responsible" and that political responsibility cannot be delegated. He subsequently testified at the 2020 criminal trial, strongly criticising Servier laboratories.

State of the evidence

Documented

During parliamentary inquiries into Covid-19 management, Xavier Bertrand was questioned about changes in mask stockpiling policy under his ministry in 2011. Between 2011 and subsequent years, national FFP2 stocks fell sharply, prompting allegations of a strategic policy reversal.

State of the evidence

Disputed

Anticor criticised the regional executive for what it considered overly lenient handling of an employee who had simultaneously worked for an organisation receiving regional funding, despite an internal investigation identifying shortcomings.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Command responsibility

After being elected head of Hauts-de-France and giving up his MP and mayoral mandates, Xavier Bertrand secured approval for a €4,000 gross monthly allowance as president of the Saint-Quentin urban area authority. Several media outlets portrayed the decision as compensation for income lost through the ban on holding multiple offices.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility

Mediapart filed a complaint after Xavier Bertrand accused the outlet of using "fascist methods" during the Bettencourt affair. Bertrand was formally placed under investigation as part of the procedure and subsequently committed for trial before the Criminal Court.

Legal status — source text

Acquitted / conviction overturned

Attribution

Accused

As Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand announced that people born in 1955 would need 166 quarters of contributions, or 41.5 years, to obtain a full pension. The measure came days after implementation began of the gradual increase in statutory retirement age towards 62 and triggered further trade union criticism.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

On Public Sénat, Xavier Bertrand strongly criticised Nicolas Totet, editor responsible for the Saint-Quentin edition of Courrier picard, after a question about his municipal ambitions. Le Monde described an unusually aggressive attack on the journalist.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

As UMP Secretary-General, Xavier Bertrand signed a cooperation memorandum with the Chinese Communist Party. The agreement prompted strong reactions from several MPs in the governing majority, who condemned formal party-to-party relations with the sole party of an authoritarian regime.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Directly implicated

In 2008, Xavier Bertrand defended a reform allowing wider negotiation of working hours at company level, going beyond the joint position agreed between CGT, CFDT, Medef and CGPME. He openly wanted to "break free from the straitjacket of the 35-hour week" while retaining 35 hours as the statutory working week.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility

The personal medical record (DMP), a flagship health insurance reform, was to be rolled out nationwide in 2007. As Health Minister, Xavier Bertrand publicly maintained that objective and was still assuring in May 2006 that implementation would take place in 2007. Following his departure, the government acknowledged that the timetable was unrealistic and restarted the project on a new basis.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

As Labour Minister, Xavier Bertrand championed legislation on social dialogue and continuity of public transport services. The legislation notably required negotiations before strikes and established guaranteed service arrangements, triggering considerable trade union controversy over the right to strike.

State of the evidence

Documented

Legal status — source text

Not applicable

Attribution

Political responsibility