What are the “privileges” of ex-ministers whose Sébastien Lecornu has introduced the abolition? | EUROtoday
Get real time updates directly on you device, subscribe now.
Before asking for efforts from the French, Sébastien Lecornu desires to indicate an instance by a symbolic measure. The new Matignon tenant introduced Monday September 15 in a message on X, that “The“ life ”benefits of former members of the federal government will probably be suppressed from 1er January 2026 “.
Such a project had already been sketched by its predecessors Michel Barnier – who wanted a “State way of life (…) extra sober, less complicated ” – and François Bayrou – who intended to flush out the “Situations of business, extreme benefits”. He had also been pushed by the centrist deputy Charles de Courson in a bill tabled in April, which had not yet been examined. But what are these “Privileges” What is Sébastien Lecornu talking about? And are they really granted “for all times”?
Fewer advantages for prime ministers since 2019
- Compensation for three months
At the end of their mandate, the Prime Ministers retain their compensation for three months, provided that they have no remunerated activity and that they are in good standing with the High Authority for the Transparency of Public Life (HATVP) – to which they must submit declarations of assets and interests. On the other hand, they do not receive any specific retirement pension.
- A secretariat for ten years
In the ten years following the end of their transition to government, they also benefit from a “Agent for his or her explicit secretariat”. However, this advantage is not granted beyond their 67e Birthday – Which excludes Michel Barnier and François Bayrou, both aged 74. Nor does it apply to those who have a similar advantage under another mandate or another public service, such as Jean Castex, president of the RATP, or Edouard Philippe, mayor of Le Havre.
These limitations were only implemented until 2019, by a decree taken under the first mandate of Emmanuel Macron, ending for the benefit of the “for life” secretariat. For The 11 former prime ministers whose mandate ended before its application, the text provided for an extension of ten years of their secretariat, that is to say until 2029. This explains that Edith Cresson or Edouard Balladur, whose mandates ended in the 1990s and which are over 90 years old, still benefit from important personnel expenses. Laurent Fabius, Prime Minister from 1984 to 1986, whose mandate of president of the Constitutional Council ended in March, regained his right to a secretariat for another four years.
- A car with a lifetime driver
The 17 former prime ministers have, moreover, “for all times” of a service car with driver and related costs, provided that they do not benefit from another public mandate.
- Police protection
Finally, all former prime ministers can benefit from police protection. According to a parliamentary report in October 2024, this privilege, from a “Unwritten republican custom”is granted systematically and “Without limitation of length”. The cost of this protection was estimated at 2.8 million euros in 2019, including police wages, their overtime, mission costs and vehicle maintenance.
The world
Support an editorial staff of 550 journalists
Access all our unlimited content from € 7.99/month for 1 year.
Get down
Follow us on Whatsapp
Stay informed
Find the selection of the editorial staff on our channel
Join
World news
Do not miss the information that interests you
Receive the editorial news and exclusive advantages offered by “Le Monde”
Receive communications
If we add cars with driver and secretaries (1.6 million euros), the total budget for the advantages of former prime ministers amounted to 4.4 million euros in 2019.
- What Sébastien Lecornu wants to change
Sébastien Lecornu said on X that ” all of the (…) means made out there to former prime ministers for all times will now be so for a restricted interval ». This will notably be the case for police safety, which won’t “Given to former Prime Ministers and Ministers of the Interior only for a limited period, and renewed according to the reality of the risk”. “If it is normal for the Republic to protect people who are the subject of threats, it is however not conceivable that they can benefit from life benefits due to temporary status”argued the Prime Minister.
No profit for all times for ministers
Contrary to common perception, former ministers haven’t 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.
- Temporary compensation
They nonetheless retain their compensation throughout the three months following the top of their mandate, underneath the identical situations 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 determine on the incompatibility of the submit referred to with the previous capabilities to keep away from conflicts of curiosity. She had, for instance, 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 companies.
In addition, just like the heads of presidency, ministers don’t have an effect on automated retirement for all times. They contribute to the National Caisse d’Assurance-Vieillese and the Institution of complementary retirement 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 weight loss program reserved for parliamentarians.
- No unemployment insurance coverage
Ministers don’t pay unemployment contributions and due to this fact have an effect on any allowances.
- Police protection
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.
- What Sébastien Lecornu wants to change
Sébastien Lecornu will due to this fact prohibit from 1er January the police safety of former ministers. She will probably be “Limited” in time and ” renewed according to the reality of the risk ”.
Article updated on September 15, 2025 at 9 p.m. : Addition of Sébastien Lecornu’s announcement on X.
https://www.lemonde.fr/les-decodeurs/article/2025/09/16/quels-sont-les-privileges-des-ex-ministres-dont-sebastien-lecornu-a-annonce-la-suppression_6641301_4355771.html