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The Senate removes the advantages granted to former Presidents of the Republic and Prime Ministers

When he was still in office at Matignon, Michel Barnier was in favor of “requesting an effort from former ministers and former prime ministers” for a “more sober” state. Now in this situation himself, the former head of government, like all those who preceded him, could see this rigor applied to him.

The Senate adopted on January 22 an amendment to this effect to the finance bill for 2025. Tabled by the centrist Nathalie Goulet, the amendment removed the envelope intended for expenses relating to former Presidents of the Republic and former Prime Ministers. ministers, or 2.8 million euros per year. This is the maximum reduction that was retained, because two other amendments proposed to partially reduce this budget line. The amendment must still be retained in the continuation of the parliamentary shuttle to come into force.

“I checked, no one is at Restos du coeur”

“Overall, they are not in great need of the Republic, they all have a certain number of pensions and all have consulting positions. I checked, no one is at Restos du coeur,” explained the senator from Orne. “When we ask the French to make efforts, they would not understand that the State does not start with itself and by avoiding superfluous expenditure,” also argued Senator Michel Canevet (Centrist Union).

As a reminder, has 16 former Prime Ministers, and they can benefit from a car with the provision of a driver and a secretariat if they do not have one within the framework of a parliamentary mandate, a mandate as a local elected official or another public function.

“Between 2022 and 2023, funds allocated to former prime ministers increased by 11%. And there were only 13 former prime ministers at the time,” recalled centrist Hervé Maurey, based on a report from the National Assembly. Since this job was handed over, three former prime ministers have joined the workforce, an “inflation” caused by political instability which began in 2024.

The resources granted to former heads of state are more substantial. In addition to a vehicle with driver, a former President of the Republic benefits from a cabinet of seven members and two service agents. This workforce was reduced to three members and a service agent, when he left the Élysée more than five years ago. Finally, he has furnished and equipped premises, the rent and costs of which are covered by the State, and the payment of their costs for activities linked to his former presidential function.

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Minister Patrick Mignola recalls that the world is “dangerous”

The Minister responsible for Relations with Parliament, Patrick Mignola, recalled that efforts had been undertaken, following a 2019 decree. “It is appropriate, nonetheless, in a world as dangerous as ours, with delinquency on the ground or with international risks which could be aggression, espionage, that we imagine that former personalities who occupied very important functions in the Republic could have a travel and especially protection service”, insisted the former president of the Modem group in the National Assembly.

Remember that the budget for the protection of former Presidents of the Republic and former Prime Ministers does not fall under the direction of government action, examined on January 22, but under the protection service (SDLP), dependent on the Ministry of Defense. 'Interior.

“It’s a signal”

Several speakers recalled that certain former Prime Ministers had benefited from these advantages for “more than 30 years”. This is the case of the socialist Édith Cresson, in office from May 1991 to April 1992, and soon of Édouard Balladur, who left Matignon in May 1995. The communist Fabien Gay suggested that a time limit be set. Secretarial costs, intended to cover expenses incurred by possible postal requests, are in any case stopped after 10 years.

Outside the government, only one voice was raised against the amendment. “This opens unhealthy debates and it’s demagoguery,” opposed senator Jean-Pierre Grand (Horizons). “We have to listen to our fellow citizens, otherwise we will move away from them a lot. It’s a signal, something that shows an example, a symbol,” replied centrist senator Vincent Delahaye.

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