Car with driver, bodyguard for their safety, severance pay when packing their boxes…. Prime ministers enjoy a certain number of advantages during the ten years following their departure from Matignon and even afterwards. Obviously, some ex-Prime Ministers would not be very careful about their lifestyle after leaving office. In a note included in the Finance bill and spotted by Politico, Right Republican MP Marie-Christine Dalloz calls on the former tenants of Matignon “to be more measured in their spending for the sake of setting an example with regard to the financial situation of the France”.
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Politico reports that in 2023, the 11 former heads of government cost France 1.23 million euros, an amount up 27% from the previous year. “One or two [sont] particularly concerned, especially since they often make comments on television sets”, continues the parliamentarian.
Villepin, Raffarin and Jospin on the podium
This barb is undoubtedly aimed at Dominique de Villepin. The one who was the last Prime Minister of Jacques Chirac from 2005 to 2007 was the biggest spender in 2023. According to Politico, the State covered 197,539 euros of his expenses, including 191,252 euros for his travel expenses. staff and 6,287 euros in automobile costs. His predecessor Jean-Pierre Raffarin (2002-2005) cost taxpayers 167,467 euros last year. This figure of the French right is ahead of an emblematic face of the left of the 90s and 2000s: Lionel Jospin. Called to cohabit with Jacques Chirac from 1997 to 2002, the former socialist Prime Minister has an expense report of 162,012 euros for 2023. Fourth, Manuel Valls (2014-2016) also far exceeds the symbolic bar of 100 000 euros like François Fillon (2007-2012), Bernard Cazeneuve (2016-2017) and Édouard Balladur (1993-1995).
3,607 euros for Castex
Of all those who have experienced “Matignon’s hell”, Jean Castex (2020-2022) is by far the most reasonable since he “displays no personnel expenses and the smallest envelope for automobile expenses, at 3,607 euros”. For Édith Cresson (1991-1992), Alain Juppé (1995-1997) and Jean-Marc Ayrault (2012-2014), the reimbursed amount varies between 64,052 euros and 83,546 euros. Gabriel Attal and Élisabeth Borne, both appointed in 2023, do not appear in this count. No more than Laurent Fabius and Édouard Philippe who both hold a mandate or a public function (mayor of Le Havre and president of the Constitutional Council) and therefore cannot benefit from the privileges. For now.
