Fillon Suspended from Legion of Honour for 10 Years Following Conviction

Former French Prime Minister François Fillon has been suspended from the Legion of Honour for a decade, according to a decree published in the Official Journal. This disciplinary action comes more than a year after his conviction in the scandal surrounding fictitious jobs for his wife, Penelope.

The decree, dated August 19, 2026, states that Fillon is suspended from exercising the rights and prerogatives associated with his status as a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour for ten years. This measure affects his highest-ranking distinction within France's most prestigious order of merit.

In addition to the Legion of Honour suspension, Fillon has also been suspended for 10 years from the National Order of Merit, of which he is a Grand Cross holder. This parallel suspension further underscores the severity of the consequences stemming from his legal troubles.

The legal proceedings against Fillon culminated in a third trial, after which the Paris Court of Appeal handed down a suspended four-year prison sentence, a €375,000 fine, and a five-year ban from holding public office on June 17, 2025. Although Fillon appealed the ruling, he later withdrew his appeal, rendering the sentence final.

Fillon, who served as Prime Minister under Nicolas Sarkozy from 2007 to 2012 and was a presidential candidate in 2017, has faced significant repercussions following the conviction. The suspensions from these high honors mark a notable fall from his previous standing in French public life.