While the French state must significantly reduce its spending, with at least 20 billion euros of savings to be found in the future budget, the Court of Auditors has highlighted in a report the spending of the presidency of the Republic. In 2023, the budget of the Élysée Palace has slipped, exceeding its allocation. The cause: expensive receptions and long-distance trips.
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The recommendations of the Court of Auditors report read like the notebook of a somewhat unruly student. The French State “ must continue its efforts ” And ” solve organizational problems “.
It must be said that in 2023, the Élysée has largely exceeded its allocation budget: 125 million euros spent, or more than 8 million above what had been allocated to the presidency of the Republic. As a result, the cash patiently accumulated since the Hollande years has been significantly nibbled away.
The cause is long-distance travel for traditionalists G7G20 in Japan and India. But also expensive receptions. Four hundred and seventy-five thousand euros for the state dinner in honor of the king. Charles III at Versailles or 412,000 for the one welcoming Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Louvre.
Exceptional expenses, the Élysée defends itself, aggravated by inflation. An increase to also be put in perspective with the years 2021 and 2022 where Covid and the presidential campaign had limited expenses. But promised, the presidency “ will take into account the comments of the Court of Auditors “. ” There France maintains close diplomatic relations with many countries which organise equivalent events when they receive the Head of State “, the presidential palace also emphasizes.
Above all, we will have to do better, they storm from the New Popular Front (NFP). So much spending for the glory of Emmanuel Macrongrumbles an NFP MP, it is unacceptable. »
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