ABSTRACT
Under the Third and to a lesser extent Fourth Republics, the creation of special parliamentary committees of enquiry, especially on issues relating to political scandals, could destabilise governments. However, a government decree of November 1958 specified that no committee was to work for longer than four months; proceedings were to be held in secret; and they were to be halted in the event of a judicial inquiry: all powerful disincentives to vigorous public investigation.
