In France, mail distribution is compulsory from Monday to Saturday. In view of the drop in the number of folds sent, a revision of this frequency has been proposed.
At the start of the year, La Poste accumulated heavy delays in the distribution of mail. In parallel, offices close or reduce their schedules. Changes are surely to be reached in the coming months, the group to face a substantial drop in the number of letters sent in recent years. The number of folds treated per year per post went from 18 billion in 2008 to 6 billion in 2023.
Philippe Wahl, CEO of La Poste, has set up a 2021-2030 plan to adjust the company’s strategy, as reported Le Figaro. However, so far, the achievements do not seem to pay enough. In a letter sent to the Prime Minister of the time Michel Barnier, at the end of 2024, the Court of Auditors estimated that the financial trajectory of La Poste “still appears insufficient to constitute a solid base by 2030”. Only Colissimo and CNP Assurances obtained positive results. Conversely, new services such as carrying meals or driving license would struggle to find their audience.
La Poste defended itself: “We never thought that local services would compensate for the fall in mail. CNP Assurances and Geopost, these are successful diversifications. And why the summary proceedings do not evoke the added value of 500 million generated by the sale of the mobile post? “
The Court of Auditors, however, proposed several economy measures, which could directly impact the French. She notably recommended a network modification with the closure of several post offices, in order to turn more to contact points in France Services houses, where several public services are grouped.
The institution adds that it would also be judicious to “wonder about the frequency of mail distribution”, France being the last country of the European Union to impose a distribution obligation six days out of seven. Several European countries are Already spent five days a week and in some others, an alternating distribution system has been set up with days of distribution changing according to areas and weeks.
François Bayrou assured, in response to the summary proceedings, that Bercy had “initiated a technical consultation phase to examine the relevant rationalization measures on the field of public service missions”. To see if these recommendations, put on the table, will be followed by post. For the time being, nothing obliges it and nothing indicates it.