Financial, environmental and political cost… François Bayrou’s Falcon ride to Pau raises several questions

The return trip to his city in Pau to participate in his municipal council, in the midst of a crisis in Mayotte, continues to be controversial. “We do not have the right to separate the province from the circle of power in Paris,” defended the new Prime Minister before the deputies on Tuesday.

The trip, Monday, December 16, of François Bayrou to Pau, to attend the municipal council of the city of which he is mayor, fuels the controversy. Pseveral invoices must be taken into account. The first is climatic. François Bayrou’s Falcon journey consumed more than a ton and a half of fuel for this single round trip, or two hours of flight. The second is financial. It takes around 18,000 euros for a trip of this type with one of the seven Falcons available to the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, according to ministerial sources at franceinfo, who had to deal with these expenses in office. On State resources, at a time when we are looking to save money. The third, finally, is political. In the midst of the crisis in Mayotte, the choice to go to his stronghold is criticized from all sides, even among his allies, which weakens François Bayrou as soon as he arrives in Matignon, and fuels the trial of disconnection against politicians.

François Bayrou, who is not the first to be singled out for this type of trip, defends himself. “I am one of those who think that we do not have the right to separate the province from the circle of power in Paris”insisted Palois during the question session with the head of government, Tuesday December 17 at the National Assembly. Sign for an advisor that he will continue “out of pride” to use the Falcon to return to his city. He quips: “It’s his way of realizing that he is Prime Minister”.

The fact remains that Pau is actually 800 kilometers from Paris and is poorly served. There is certainly the train, but only a few trips per day, and five hours of travel on average. “When you are Prime Minister, you are there 24 hours a day”insists a parliamentary source to franceinfo, even during his more personal trips. You have to secure everything, privatize a wagon, sometimes even use another railway line, which is doable, but by organizing well in advance with the SNCF. An even more complicated task when you have to take an airliner. Not to mention the people who accompany him: his security, his team, a doctor just in case, and a transmitter which allows the Prime Minister – like the President – to be contacted by encrypted means everywhere all the time. According to a former member of Matignon, “It may seem crazy, but for us the Falcon is a taxi like any other.”

Concerning the procedure, the Élysée was aware – at least normally, since two services communicate with each other: the military cabinet of Matignon with that of the Élysée, the fleet being managed by the Army. When one needs a device, he notifies the other, checks that the President of the Republic does not need it, since he has priority. Emmanuel Macron’s entourage wants to make it clear that it is not the Élysée which validates the travel of the head of government and his ministers.