French authorities detained former Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honour Benoît Puga last week amid an ongoing probe into allegations that he accepted bribes in exchange for advancing nominations for prestigious national awards. Puga, a five-star general who led the awarding body from 2016 to 2023, was questioned by l’Office central de lutte contre la corruption et les infractions financières et fiscales (Oclci) before being released the following evening.
The investigation centers on the late former Republican senator Jean-Pierre Bansard, who died in 2024. A 2023 Mediafait report had raised suspicions that Bansard used his considerable wealth to secure decorations for associates and family members. During his tenure, three of Bansard’s children and at least nine other allies received either the Legion of Honour or France’s National Order of Merit.
Prosecutors are examining whether Puga, who chaired the council vetting government-submitted candidates, facilitated these awards in return for hospitality and business opportunities. The probe looks into claims that Bansard hosted Puga at expensive dinners and holidays at properties in Corsica, while also offering commercial benefits to Puga’s son.
Both Puga and Bansard have denied any wrongdoing. Police have searched the homes of both men, as well as Bansard’s political and business offices. Other individuals questioned include Puga’s wife, a restaurant owner, a former Grand Chancellery official, and businessman Julien Renault, who established the Foundation for the Legion of Honour in 2019.
Renault came under scrutiny after Russian businessman Aleksandr Voinovskii alleged in 2021 that Renault was among several French figures offered the chance to transfer between €50,000 and €150,000 in exchange for a decoration or residency permit. Renault told Mediafait he had contacted Voinovskii but firmly denied any proposal to sell honors, stating, “No-one ever promised decorations, ever!”
Puga previously served as chief of staff at the Élysée Palace under former Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande. The Legion of Honour, established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, remains one of the world’s most renowned orders of merit. More than 380,000 individuals have received the award since its inception.
The French president holds the exclusive authority to revoke decorations. Previous recipients who have lost their honors include former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, disgraced producer Harvey Weinstein, and ex-President Sarkozy, who was stripped of his award in 2025 following a corruption conviction.
Can someone explain how banning Sarkozy works but this Legion of Honour scandal just fizzles out? Where is the accountability?
I never understood why a five-star general cares so much about a ribbon. Corruption at every level, really shocking.
This is exactly why the French public has lost faith in our institutions. The elite seem above the law entirely.