France is in the red and ex-Prime Ministers are spending more and more: “It’s not consistent”

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“It is in symbols that we make policies.” The deputy (Les Républicains) of Jura Marie-Christine Dalloz delivered, Thursday, November 21, 2024, a report on the direction of government action.

At the heart of this document, Marie-Christine Dalloz points out the expenses of former Premiers ministers, having jumped 11% between 2022 and 2023. They range from single to double depending on the Prime Ministers concerned.

As a reminder, Decree No. 2019-973 of September 20, 2019 provides that the State makes available to former tenants of Matignon (upon their request) a company vehicle with driver, as well as an agent for a special secretariat for a period of 10 years.

“A colossal sum”

Marie-Christine Dalloz calls on former Prime Ministers to be “more measured in their spending”. For the MP for Jura, requested by actu.frthis 11% increase in credits represents in fact “a colossal sum”.

In fact, the budget allocated to former Prime Ministers increased from 1.28 million euros in 2022 to 1.42 million euros in 2023. We do not have the figures for 2024.

Compared to the government's request to reduce the deficit by 60 billion euros, one might be tempted to say that it is a straw. But not for Marie-Christine Dalloz, who sees it as a “symbol”.

At one point, they represented France. Everyone must be concerned by the budgetary drift that we are experiencing today. We cannot ask retirees, businesses, employees to make an effort if we do not ask them to make an effort.

The MP for Jura does not find it “consistent to use public money for personal purposes”, especially since “some people travel a lot.

Proof of the importance of the subject, Michel Barnier mentioned it in his interview with TF1 this Tuesday, November 26.

I think we can make improvements in the state's lifestyle, be more sober, be simpler. I am thinking of asking former Prime Ministers to make an effort to reduce operations.

Which former Prime Ministers are the biggest spenders?

When we look more closely at the figures, we realize that in 2023, former Prime Ministers the biggest spenders are, in order: Bernard Cazeneuve (201,387 euros), Dominique de Villepin (197,539 euros), Jean-Pierre Raffarin (167,467 euros), Lionel Jospin (162,012 euros) and Édith Cresson (154,730 euros).

If the infographic is not displayed, click here. Élisabeth Borne and Gabriel Attal are not included in the accounts, since the data ends on December 31, 2023.

Please note, Manuel Valls' personnel expenses explode between 2022 and 2023going from 31,875 euros to 133,960 euros.

Finally, Laurent Fabius, President of the Constitutional Council and Edouard Philippe, mayor of Le Havre, are not concerned by these expenses. The benefits do not apply to former Prime Ministers who have a company vehicle for the exercise of a parliamentary mandate, a mandate as a local elected official or a public function, idem for the secretariat.

Incomplete figures

Marie-Christine Dalloz reminds actu.fr that the protection needs of these former Prime Ministers are not taken into account in the budget of the Government Action Directorate, but in that of the Minister of the Interior.

We therefore do not have all the figures of what the former tenants of Matignon cost.

These protection measures are granted by decision of the Minister of the Interior under an unwritten republican tradition which provides for the protection, without time limit, of former Presidents of the Republic, former Prime Ministers and former Ministers of the Interior .

And the former Presidents in all this?

THE former Presidents also have the right to treatment after their mandate. Today, François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy are concerned, because the only ones still alive.

The expenses of these two former political adversaries amount to 1.32 million euros in 2023 compared to 1.39 million euros in 2022. Or -5.4% in one year. In detail, Nicolas Sarkozy spends 718,450 euros (stable compared to 2022) and François Hollande 598,714 euros (down 11% compared to 2022).

Marie-Christine Dalloz calls on the two ex-Presidents to continue to “reduce their expenses, the amounts committed remaining high”. A logical amount considering the services made available to them.

As a reminder : sseven employees, then three after five years, dfurnished and equipped premiseswhose rent, charges and general costs are covered by the State, la covering reception costs as well as travel costsfor themselves and a colleague within the framework of activities related to their function.

Those passing through the Élysée also have the right to a vehicle with driver. But these expenses are included in the budget of the Ministry of the Interior, in expenses related to their security.

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