No inspector will refuse to receive a fellow

It is the grand return of the "IGF". Believed folded on itself, depressed. In fact, the General Inspection of finance service simply operated a molt slow and subtle. The Government, in business, finance inspectors, the elite of the elite "in the boot" of the ENA, were never as numerous.

About 20 of them share the key positions in corporate offices; in the Elysee Palace, despite the aversion of Nicolas Sarkozy to the large body, the new Deputy Secretary-General, Xavier Musca, succeeded François Pérol, party lead all people's Bank - Caisse d'Epargne, and his closest advisers, such as Alain Minc, are of the upper room. Rocard-Juppe commission on the great loan also demonstrates the influence of the IGF: from the Seraglio, two former Prime Ministers appealed to the network to form their group of reflection: on twelve members, seven are finance inspectors. The business also has many inspectors: this is the case of Baudouin Prot at the head of BNP Paribas, by Frédéric Oudéa in command of the Société Générale, Stéphane Richard in France Telecom... And we could find many more in the Bank, the media, the building, transportation, regulatory bodies or independent authorities... In total, on the 280 members of the corps in activity, 118 are in the private and 94 in the public sector.

Skilled, fine strategists, these men and women trained in the analysis of high level were able to adapt to the new contours of the State and their economic environment to remain at the top. And return to power. This was still not gained. Since 1990 in the early 2000s, the IGF has experienced 10 years of a slow descent to the underworld, punctuated by three high-profile breakup: those of Credit Lyonnais, Vivendi and France Telecom... Three fiascos embodied by men - Jean-Yves Haberer, Jean-Marie Messier and Michel Bon - specifically trained in the Inspection of Finance: What trigger a real cabal against the elite of the French administration. And even if others were successful (Louis Schweitzer in Renault, Michel Pébereau the BNP), the mischief was done.

More than just plotted route

"During this period, the Ministers were wary of us", sighs a finance Inspector. A shock. For the first time in the press and within the State, the service, its effectiveness, his Excellency foolproof were questioned. "There has been for many the feeling of the end of an era", notes an inspector today in the private sector, which made its classes during this dark period. Those who, previously, had a career as any drawn, had to think about other opportunities. Since then, "the second model party career no longer exists", acknowledges Jean Bassères, the head of the inspection service. Understanding: route leading in a straight line of ENA at the direction of a major bank or a public company, through Inspection of finance and Treasury management.

Are always inspectors at the head of the banks, but they soon chose to enter and formed the trade (Baudouin Prot joined the BNP in 1985). "Past forty years, now, it is more difficult to go to the private sector," noted Emmanuel Macron. Thirty-one years, the rapporteur of the Attali commission has chosen the Rothschild Bank out of the "tour" (period during which the young inspectors are formed). At the time, round trips and between the administration and the private sector are more numerous: Bruno Deletré, for example, enarque and multi-skilled of forty-eight years, has already done two Roundtripping: Treasury to Dexia, before returning to the Inspection, that he will leave again to take the responsibility of the international pole of BPCE. Five years, 40 people are returned to the Inspection... and distributed within a year, time to find a new position. The choices are earlier, but also on a broader spectrum: culture, education... Inspectors not prohibit more nothing.

"Out of the IGF is more determinative of a career", recognizes Aline Sylla-Walbaum. Outgoing inspection, the former adviser to François Fillon in Matignon has chosen to go to work for the Museum of the Louvre; Today, it is Special Adviser to the President of Unibail. It is far time where Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, himself Inspector, took a young congener which, iconoclastic, chose the Department of Foreign Affairs: "then Sir, was chosen the vagueness."

At the time, from the Ministry of finance, point of salvation, Treasury as a Holy Grail. Today, "there is less protected positions", said a man from the Seraglio. In fact, to be Director of the Treasury, is to never close due to conflict of interest while uncapped in 95 of the companies. What cool the ardour of those young people whose engine remains above all ambition.

The reform of the State as the credo

"These careers were some Sesame become impasses", said Alain Minc. As the scope of State intervention to be shrinking, reducing IGF has today lost much of its business: less than public or quasi-public institutions where recaser inspectors, less sectors protected or monitored to justify their work. While the classification of the ENA output will be abolished soon, the IGF seeks further legitimacy to the two major bodies competing are the Conseil of State and the Court of Auditors. Less stamped "ANE" - many inspectors were CET and service now hosts other officials-, service has learned to work collaboratively with other departments and is firm tunes. The reform of the State, which has criticized them for having abandoned, becomes their creed. Even if, in the General review of public policies (RGPP) drastic cuts, many see the brand of the IGF. Young Inspectors believe hard as iron: Renaud guided twenty-nine years, he ends the "tour" and wants to "reinvent the"business model"of the State".

Evolution of mentalities or question of good sense Impossible, in a highly competitive, to be competent by anointing world. Is that "it gives us at the outset the chance to race at the top", recognizes one of them. Because if the IGF has evolved, there is one fundamental thing that has not changed: the network. The Inspection continues to be a wonderful sesame. No inspector will refuse to receive a "fellow".

When François Pérol BPCE head, it is Bruno Deletré it calls to clean up in the DOM - TOM. They know that, whatever the "promo", the selection process has been particularly effective and rigorous work methodology.

A church with Pope and Cardinal

"There is all the inspectors a part of pride, ambition and enormous working capacity", recognizes one of them. The new generation believes, however, the distorting mould of training which would make arrogant and too confident. "The three-year tour of the IGF did not change my personality", provides Sébastien Proto, thirty-one years, and previously Director of Office of the Budget Minister, Eric Woerth. This, also, it has not changed: the proximity with the power and the public thing. "Where any, an Inspector of finance begins always read the white pages of the"Figaro"before salmon pages", summarizes, smiling young Director of cabinet. The IGF is a "Church", with the Pope, Jean-Claude Trichet, figure tutelary, and his Cardinals, Xavier Musca for the public sector, Henri de Castries to the private and Alain Minc for the flakes... It also has an unwavering belief in his abilities. Everyone, whatever their age, argue strongly that if the crisis was averted by the France, it is, in part, with inspectors finance: "the Inspection did not have to be ashamed of its members during the crisis: Trichet at the ECB, Perol at the Elysee, Musca Treasury, Gosset-Grainville at Matignon and the directors of the IGF from financial institutions have the notion of public interest.", supports Jean-François Juéry, Inspector in the "tour".

"In the United States, Goldman Sachs has won the State, the inspectors of finance, they conquered the banks, it makes all the difference", summarizes a man of the House.