He only stayed three months at Matignon, but Michel Barnier will retain comfortable advantages (except one)

See my news
Follow News

After the political cataclysm which occurred in the National Assembly this Wednesday, December 4, 2024 (a motion of censure from the New Popular Front adopted, bringing down the government), Michel Barnier must pack his boxes. The now ex-Prime Minister will only have remained three months in Matignon.

And yet, the position he held allows him to retain certain advantages.

Benefits in kind…

Let’s first look at its in-kind benefits. And you should know that Decree No. 2019-973 of September 20, 2019 provides for everything from which former Prime Ministers can benefit. It is therefore a private car with driver and a private secretariat.

“The State makes available to former Prime Ministers, upon their request, a company vehicle and a car driverand covers the related expenses”, we read in article 2 of the said decree.

…but not all

It is for the private secretariat that things are going wrong in the case of Michel Barnier. As article 1 of the decree which provides for it indicates that “the State provides former Prime Ministers, at their request, with an agent for their particular secretariat, for a maximum period of ten years from the end of their functions and at the latest until they reach the age of sixty-seven years.”

Or Michel Barnier is 73 years old : he cannot therefore benefit from the services of a particular secretariat.

Police protection

Moreover, the most exposed members of the government (former ministers of Justice, Interior, Defense and Foreign Affairs) may have police protection which can be retained after the end of their functions.

Just like ex-Prime Ministers who can benefit at any time police protection, if they wish, provided by the protection service of the national police.

Benefits in kind, which ex-Prime Ministers can however refuse. Like Jean Castex, Prime Minister of Emmanuel Macron between 2020 and 2022, who started traveling by metro again when he left the government (he also became CEO of the RATP after his time at Matignon).

How much is his severance pay?

Michel Barnier also leaves office with a tidy sum. Because you should know that an organic law provides for the compensation of government ministers.

“After ceasing their functions, ministers and secretaries of state receive compensation equivalent to the salary they received in government. Payment of this compensation is assured to them for three months (compared to six months before the organic law of October 11, 2013), unless they return to paid activity before“, explains the site vie-publique.fr.

Contrary to popular belief, former Prime Ministers do not keep a salary for life!

Please note, to receive this compensation, you must have declared all or part of your assets or interests.

Thus, Michel Barnier, who earned 16,039 euros gross per month, according to our calculations, will therefore receive compensation of approximately 45,000 euros (in total) for three months. The same amount therefore, depending on whether they stayed in post for three months… or three years.

Follow all the news from your favorite cities and media by subscribing to Mon Actu.