French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced the abolition of lifelong benefits for former prime ministers.
As of January 1, 2026, they will no longer receive the generous perks and police protection previously afforded to former government officials, he said yesterday.
While the financial impact on France’s national budget — already burdened by substantial debt and deficits — may be limited, the move carries significant symbolic weight.
By cutting its own privileges while it wants to impose austerity on the public, the government shows a commitment— or at least the appearance of one — to shared sacrifice.
Previous prime ministers had addressed the issue, but did not achieve any changes.
“It is done: The ‘lifetime’ benefits of former members of the government will be abolished from January 1, 2026,” Lecornu wrote on X yesterday evening.
“While it is normal for the Republic to protect people who are the subject of threats, it is inconceivable that they should enjoy lifetime benefits on the basis of a temporary status.
“Police protection will only be granted to former prime ministers and home secretaries for a limited period, and will be renewed depending on the actual risk. All other resources made available to former prime ministers for life will now be available for a limited period,” he said.
C’est fait : les avantages « à vie » des anciens membres du Gouvernement seront supprimés dès le 1er janvier 2026.
S’il est normal que la République protège les personnes faisant l’objet de menaces, il n’est en revanche pas concevable qu’ils puissent bénéficier d’avantages à vie…
— Sébastien Lecornu (@SebLecornu) September 15, 2025
The decision came following an interview on September 13 where he made a series of announcements of new policies following his installation as PM on September 9.
“We cannot ask the French to make efforts if those who are at the head of state do not make them,” Lecornu said.
It means that former prime ministers no longer have limitless the right to a car and a driver at the taxpayer’s expense.
Their right to a private secretary for 10 years also disappears.
In France, there are 17 former prime ministers enjoying these perks, at an annual cost of €1.5 million.
In addition, there is another €3 million spent on police protection costs for them. That protection will be significantly reduced and more on a case-by-case basis depending on the level of threat.
Another important symbolic measure was the scrapping of the abolition of two public holidays, a controversial decision of Lecornu’s predecessor, François Bayrou.
Lecornu said he did not want to work with the National Rally (RN), preferring co-operation with the Socialists, ecologists and Communists in parliament.
Together they need to fix the French budget, where the country has a public debt of €3.5 trillion and the deficit stands at €142 billion as of July, or at 5.6 per cent of GDP for the year.
The government is seeking to make €43.8 billion in savings to reduce the deficit by 2026.
France’s former prime minister, François Bayrou, freshly ejected from parliament, insists he will keep “no advantages” relating to his lost position. https://t.co/MitiaOGeS2
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) September 11, 2025
