Senator Christine Herzog sanctioned by French Senate for harassment and fund misuse

On 16 July 2026 the Bureau of the French Senate imposed the highest disciplinary sanction on Senator Christine Herzog of Moselle. The Senate committee found she committed moral harassment of a parliamentary collaborator and diverted staff time to tasks for her companion, constituting a serious breach of probity. The penalty is a censure with temporary exclusion from the Senate, a six‑month loss of a third of her parliamentary allowance and the entire function allowance – about €3,504.79 per month – and a mandatory year‑long professional accompaniment.

In the same session the Senate also authorised the lifting of parliamentary immunity for Senator Francis Szpiner of Paris, allowing him to be placed under judicial control. Additionally, the Senate approved new guidelines governing the use of artificial intelligence by its staff.