“Catastrophe”, “great waste”, “injustice”… The words are strong and reveal the tremors which are shaking the Commission for the restitution of property and compensation for victims of anti-Semitic spoliations (CIVS). Placed under the supervision of the Prime Minister, this administrative commission examines the files presented by the victims (or their beneficiaries) of theft of material or financial property following the anti-Jewish laws of the Vichy regime and then proposes the most appropriate reparation. His opinion is almost always followed by the government.
Since its creation in 1999, the CIVS has processed more than 36,000 cases and recommended the payment of some 550 million euros in compensation. Concretely, this may involve looting of apartments, “Aryanization” of Jewish businesses, confiscation of bank assets, theft or forced sale of cultural property or even payment of smuggler's fees. But the departure in February of 7 of the 9 rapporteurs — judicial or administrative magistrates responsible for examining the cases — shakes the institution. And fuels among some the fear of a loss of efficiency and competence, to the detriment of the applicants. Management assumes managerial control and ensures that the situation will not affect its operations.