Minister blocks top appointment at elite institute

By Jane Marshall. France’s Higher Education and Research Minister Geneviève Fioraso has blocked the appointment of a provisional director of the elite Institute of Political Science, known as Sciences Po.
Her action followed the official publication on Thursday of a damning report by the Cour des Comptes – the state auditor – on the financial management of the institute, and the auditor’s decision to refer matters to the state Budget and Finance Disciplinary Court.
The provisional report was leaked in October to the newspaper Le Monde. At that time Fioraso pointed out that the findings were provisional and said she would wait for the definitive version before taking any decisions or action. More...