This is at least one positive effect of the coronavirus.

The budget of the Elysee Palace in 2020 was brought under control due to the constraints imposed by the Covid-19 epidemic.

This has indeed drastically reduced presidential travel, notes the Court of Auditors according to a report unveiled Monday.

The allocation entered in the State budget of 105.3 million euros and the income realized (1.7 million) were sufficient to cover the expenses which amounted to 106.8 million euros.

Although the amount is minimal compared to the total of the products produced, the Court of Auditors notes that the sale of derivatives by the Presidency made it possible to collect a revenue of 113,962 euros excluding tax in 2020 against 77,635 euros in 2019.

Very sharp drop in overtime

The year 2020 was mainly reflected in a "sharp reduction in travel", going from 108 in 2019 to 67 in 2020. This notably enabled a redeployment of 3.1 million euros in favor of digital transformation, carrying out real estate works and acquiring safety equipment.

The payroll did not increase in 2020, mainly due to a considerable drop in overtime (-34%), points out the Court of Auditors.

The note further specifies that the wife of the Head of State Brigitte Macron received more than 25,000 letters in 2020, an increase of 20% compared to 2019, which mobilizes seven full-time equivalents (FTE) of the unit. correspondence.

This service employs a total of 55 FTEs in 2020 to process all letters and electronic messages received, i.e. 300,000 in 2020.

The good and the bad of security

The annual control exercise on the finances of the presidency was also an opportunity for the magistrates to send a satisfaction to the reform of the security of the Elysee, which had been one of the backdrops of the case. Benalla.

The creation of the Security Directorate of the Presidency of the Republic (DSPR) is a "step forward", judge the magistrates.

The Court, however, frowns on the management of overtime for police officers of the Security Group of the Presidency of the Republic (GSPR), in charge of close protection.

The agents have accumulated an overall stock of 278,457.93 overtime hours.

This is added with an allowance specific to office work, which deserves to be “reviewed and clarified”.

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