A possible mailing of the "letter to French" Emmanuel Macron could cost "between 5 and 7 million euros" to the state, said Sunday the Minister of Action and Public Accounts Gerald Darmanin, saying favorable to the operation.
"The French must be interested in this debate". This letter was published on the Elysée website and picked up by the media on January 13, the day before the government launched the big national debate, without it being clear whether it would be sent to all residents. of the country thereafter. "I wish it to be and I imagine it could be in the coming weeks," said Gerald Darmanin Sunday during the Sunday in politics of France 3 which he was the guest. "I have no order to give to the President of the Republic", cautiously added the minister, "but I think that the French must be interested in this debate" and they do not perceive it like "a blabla debate".
"The cost of democracy". Asked about the cost of such a postal operation, Gerald Darmanin said that "when we generally decide to hold a referendum and therefore to send all the French electoral propaganda, it costs between 5 and 7 million euros ". He then brushed aside any criticism of such an expense: "I am always amazed at the way people want more democracy, more information, more exchanges, and sometimes reject the cost of democracy." Asked Sunday by AFP, the Elysee did not comment on a possible mass mailing of the presidential message.