Paris prosecutor investigates alleged bullying in government departments after suicide attempt

A lawyer for the woman who attempted suicide said difficulties for staff had been compounded by the instability of governments – there have been four prime ministers in two years. Photograph: Abdul Saboor/Reuters

The Paris state prosecutor has opened a preliminary inquiry into alleged workplace bullying after the attempted suicide of a staff member in a department connected to the French prime minister’s office, France Inter radio has revealed.

The public radio station reported on Monday that two government workers in different departments had ended their lives in the past year, and two others had attempted suicide. The radio station said complaints of alleged workplace bullying had been made.