“A deficit result”, despite “efforts to control costs and risks”. The Court of Auditors invited, this Monday, July 30, the Presidency of the Republic to “continue its efforts” to contain its expenses on travel and receptions, which are “sharply increasing” in 2023 after two years of lows linked to Covid and the presidential campaign.
These expenses reached 21 million euros last year compared to 13.3 million in 2022 and 9.87 million in 2021, which largely explains the increase in the Elysée budget, in addition to a “high level of inflation”, she notes. in a report and a press release.
The Presidency’s expenses thus amounted to 125.5 million euros in total in 2023, i.e. 8.3 million more than its budget allocation and the profits made thanks in particular to the launch of the Elysée brand. “This deficit result made it necessary to draw on the treasury,” notes the Court of Auditors.
State dinners costing nearly 500,000 euros
After the Covid health crisis and the 2022 election campaign, Emmanuel Macron undertook several major trips in 2023, to China, Oceania, Africa, Japan (G7 summit) and Mongolia as well as India (G20) and Bangladesh.
On the reception side, the renovation of the grand kitchens of the Elysée Palace led to “more frequent use of catering services” in 2023 (1.3 million euros in total). The state dinners in honor of Charles III and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, “relocated” to Versailles and the Louvre due to the work in the kitchens, thus cost 475,000 euros and 412,000 euros respectively.
While the Court of Auditors welcomes a “voluntary approach to framing activities” by the Elysée, it also points out the “hazards” in the president’s schedule as well as “internal organisational problems” that have added to costs. In such a context, “efforts must be continued and strengthened to better anticipate events, improve the flow of information between departments, raise awareness among certain stakeholders of budgetary issues (…) have shared work tools and control travel and reception expenses”, adds the Court of Auditors.
The presidency “will take into account the Court’s remarks to improve its organization and internal arrangements,” the Elysée Palace responded. “France maintains strong diplomatic relations with many countries that organize equivalent events when they receive the head of state,” the presidential palace also emphasizes.
Among the six most expensive events at the Elysée in 2023, three were open to the public: the “Made in France” exhibition (233,000 euros), the Fête de la Musique (210,000 euros) and the European Heritage Days (208,000 euros).