Each year, its accounts are carefully scrutinized. The Elysée will have done slightly better in 2019 since the accounts of the services of the Presidency of the Republic showed a surplus of one million euros last year, according to the annual report of the Court of Auditors released on Wednesday.
The expenditure of the services of the Elysée fell by 3.26% compared to 2018, to the tune of 105.33 million euros, while the resources increased by 1.2% to 106.3 million, specifies the court. In 2018, the Élysée had exceeded its initial budget and had to draw more than five million euros from the reserve, due in particular to the increase in the activity of the presidency.
Two factors to explain the drop
In 2019, the decrease in spending is mainly the result of two factors. On the one hand, "the number of presidential trips fell by 20% in 2019, inducing a significant part of the reduction in costs (-6.1 million euros)", notes the court in its report which was submitted Tuesday to Emmanuel Macron by its first president Pierre Moscovici. President Macron traveled less abroad, with 32 trips in 2019 out of a total of 108, against 46 in 2018 out of a total of 135 trips.
Under the leadership of @ EmmanuelMacron, the Presidency of the Republic has been reorganized. Concrete progress and savings have been made. It is the Court of Auditors which notes: https://t.co/oC0LvrPXOG
- Élysée (@Elysee) July 29, 2020At the same time, the evolution of the wage bill (71.1%) “could be contained”, with an increase of 0.9% compared to 2018, due in particular to a decrease in the workforce of 2, 5% on average ". General operating expenditure fell by 4.9%. As of December 31, 2019, the number of presidential staff stood at 779, including 454 civilians and 325 soldiers, against 816 at the same time. date the previous year.The cabinet of the Head of State consisted of 47 people, as in 2018.
The court particularly observed this year the reorganization of services, launched in 2017 under the leadership of Emmanuel Macron. "The first results are already noticeable, as illustrated by the 20% reduction in overtime and the establishment of a shared digital agenda for presidential events which makes it possible to anticipate their preparation," she notes.
Stable expenses for Brigitte Macron
Seventeen events were also organized in 2019 as part of the "great debate" to get out of the yellow vests crisis, including 11 trips by the Head of State to meet local elected officials and six receptions at the Elysee Palace, for a total cost of 0.9 million.
As every year, a specific control relates to the activity of Brigitte Macron. The direct expenses attributable to him mainly result from the salaries of the members of his cabinet for “282,476 euros”, an amount comparable to those of 2017/2018. The wife of the head of state received more than 21,000 letters in 2019, against 19,500 the previous year.
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