FILE - In this Sept. 19, 2017 file photo, the National Order of the Legion of Honor (Légion d'Honneur) medal is seen during a ceremony at Los Angeles National Cemetery. The French government announced its decision Thursday Nov.2, 2017 to tighten rules to award the Legion of honor, France's highest distinction. Government spokesman said the number of awardees next year will decrease by 50 percent for civilians, 10 percent for soldiers and 25 percent for foreigners. (AP Photo/Reed Saxon, File)
Republished November 02, 2017 - 10:21 AM
Original Publication Date November 02, 2017 - 8:26 AM
PARIS - The French government says it is tightening rules for awarding the Legion of Honor, France's highest distinction.
Government spokesman Christophe Castaner said Thursday the number of awardees next year will decrease by 50 per cent for civilians, 10 per cent for soldiers and 25 per cent for foreigners.
Currently some 3,200 civilians and 1,300 military staff receive the award every year.
Castaner suggested the Legion of Honor is currently granted too easily to people who have the right networks to put their names on the list.
Speaking at a news conference following the weekly Cabinet meeting, he said the selection criteria should be stricter, adding: "You don't get it by doing friends favours."
He also said some senior public servants who cannot receive financial bonuses under French law are symbolically awarded with the Legion of Honor instead.
He noted the Legion of Honor tends to be attributed mostly to white men over 60 and called for more diversity.
The Legion of Honor, created by Napoleon in 1802, aims at honouring famous as well as unknown people, French and foreigners, who have served France and defended its values.
Government members are proposing names of candidates to the Legion of Honor's head, the Grand Chancellor. The list of awardees is made official by a decree of the President of the Republic and announced three times each year.
Last month, Macron began the process to revoke Harvey Weinstein's Legion of Honor award over the multiple accusations of sexual assault and harassment against the Hollywood titan.
Weinstein was given the prestigious award in 2012 by then-President Nicolas Sarkozy after the French film "The Artist" won multiple Oscars. Weinstein's company produced the film.
Another American — disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong — is among the few people who have had their distinction revoked.
News from © The Associated Press, 2017