What are the “privileges” of the ex-ministers that Sébastien Lecornu needs to delete? | EUROtoday

Before asking for efforts from the French, Sébastien Lecornu needs to indicate an instance. The new Matignon tenant introduced in an interview with the regional press, Friday, September 12, need “End an end to the latest privileges which are still granted” for all times “to certain former members of the government”. A venture already sketched by its predecessors Michel Barnier – who needed a “State lifestyle (…) more sober, simpler ” – and François Bayrou – who meant to flush out the “Situations of industrial, excessive advantages”. A invoice on this sense had even been tabled by the centrist deputy Charles de Courson in April, however has nonetheless not been examined. What are these privileges? Which are actually “for life”?

Fewer benefits for prime ministers since 2019

At the top of their mandate, the Prime Ministers retain their compensation for 3 months, supplied that they don’t have any remunerated exercise and that they’re in good standing with the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP) – to which they have to submit declarations of property and pursuits. On the opposite hand, they didn’t have an effect on any particular retirement pension.

In the ten years following the top of their transition to authorities, additionally they profit from a “Agent for their particular secretariat”. However, this benefit just isn’t granted past their 67^e Birthday – Which excludes Michel Barnier and François Bayrou, each aged 74. Nor does it apply to those that have the same benefit below one other mandate or one other public service, equivalent to Jean Castex, president of the RATP, or Edouard Philippe, mayor of Le Havre.

These limitations have been solely carried out till 2019, by a decree taken below the primary mandate of Emmanuel Macron, ending for the advantage of the “for life” secretariat. For The 11 former prime ministers whose mandate ended earlier than its software, the textual content supplied for an extension of ten years of their secretariat, that’s to say till 2029. This explains that Edith Cresson or Edouard Balladur, whose mandates ended within the Nineties and that are over 90 years outdated, nonetheless profit from substantial personnel bills. Laurent Fabius, Prime Minister from 1984 to 1986, whose mandate of president of the Constitutional Council resulted in March, regained his proper to a secretariat for one more 4 years.

The 17 former prime ministers even have “for life” of a service automobile with driver and associated prices, supplied that they don’t profit from one other public mandate.

Finally, all former prime ministers can profit from police safety. According to a parliamentary report in October 2024, this privilege, from a “Unwritten republican tradition”, is granted systematically and “Without limitation of duration”. The price of this safety was estimated at 2.8 million euros in 2019, together with police wages, their additional time, mission prices and automobile upkeep.

If we add automobiles with driver and secretaries (1.6 million euros), the whole price range for the benefits of former prime ministers quantities to 4.4 million euros for 17 beneficiaries.

No profit for all times for ministers

Contrary to in style perception, former ministers don’t have any “life” benefit. “As soon as we leave our duties, we lose all the advantages. We arrive in the morning with a driver, we leave in the evening by taxi ”,, tells a former Minister of the Castex authorities.

They however retain their compensation through the three months following the top of their mandate, below the identical circumstances as the previous leaders of the federal government. Since 2013, former ministers should additionally declare that HATVP any change of place for 3 years. The High Authority can resolve on the incompatibility of the submit referred to with the outdated capabilities to keep away from conflicts of curiosity. For instance, she had prevented the previous Secretary of State for Digital Cédric O from becoming a member of the board of administrators of the ATOS firm, specializing in digital providers.

In addition, just like the heads of presidency, ministers don’t have an effect on computerized retirement for all times. They contribute to the National Old Age Insurance Fund and the complementary retirement establishment of non -holders of the State and public authorities (the supplementary pension plan for contractual brokers of the general public service). Those who’ve been deputies or senators proceed to contribute to their particular food regimen reserved for parliamentarians.

Ministers don’t pay unemployment contributions and subsequently have an effect on any allowances.

Some former ministers additionally profit from police safety – if the Ministry of the Interior requires it – which can embody the availability of a automobile with driver. This is systematically the case of the previous inside ministers, who all had entry to delicate data throughout their mandate. But others may profit from it: in 2024, Release reported that Marlène Schiappa and Olivier Dussopt loved, for instance, safety and a personal automobile after the top of their mandate.