France launches service to make deadbeat parents pay

PARIS (AP) — France is launching a new government service empowered to take money directly from the bank accounts of parents who fail to pay child support, aiming to help many families — the vast majority of whom are headed by single mothers — emerge from precarious financial situations.

President Emmanuel Macron denounced in a tweet unpaid child support as “an unbearable situation for hundreds of thousands of single parents,” before visiting a benefits agency Tuesday in Tours, in central France, which is providing the new service.

“Thank you” for the measure, a single mother of three told Macron, detailing at length her personal situation, involving domestic violence and harassment from her ex-husband and deep financial difficulties. “That's a great relief," she said.

The mothers who spoke with Macron didn't provide their names because of privacy reasons.

French authorities estimate that between 30% and 40% of child support amounts are either not paid, only partially paid or paid too late — placing at least 300,000 families in financial insecurity.

Single parents represent one out of four families in France, 85% of whom are mothers. A third are living under the poverty rate.

For these families, getting child support — on average 170 euros ($209) per month for each child — is key.

The measure also aims at preventing financial pressure and threats sometimes exerted by deadbeat parents.

Under the new system, any mother or father can request the new government service, regardless of whether the other parent disagrees. Once in place, the service handles the payment of the money until the child is 18.

The issue was raised in 2019 during the “grand debate” launched by Macron to allow the French to express their grievances following weeks of...