On 21 January TI (France) sent out short questionnaires to the candidates in 38 cities with populations above 100,000 inhabitants. The questionnaire contained seven recommendations for improving transparency and preventing corruption risks in city administration. The recommendations addressed issues of elective mandates after corruption convictions, conflicts of interest, public procurement using TI’s Integrity Pacts, decisions on town-planning, asset declarations by elected officials, and whistle blowing mechanisms, including whistle blowers protection. The questionnaire also included an open section for the candidates’ own comments and initiatives.

TI (France) is confident that the majority of elected representatives in France fulfil their mandates with integrity and accountability, and make decisions in everyone’s interest. However, current anti-corruption mechanisms can be improved and the project is an opportunity for the candidates to sign up for integrity and transparency. Citizens’ expectations on these issues, often left out of electoral campaigns, are usually high; according to TI’s 2007 Global Corruption Barometer, the French perceive political parties as the sector most affected by corruption in France. Visit the new TI (France) website at: http://www.transparence-france.org for further information and to see the questionnaire and the candidates’ responses.