The return of the parliamentary reserve, abolished in 2017 when the law on the moralization of public life was adopted, is demanded by certain elected officials. Some who voted for its removal say they regret it.
Nearly 300 deputies and senators demand the return of the parliamentary reserve in a letter published Monday October 30 by West France. Among the signatories are more than 120 Republican parliamentarians, but also some elected representatives from the majority and around sixty elected representatives from the National Rally.
The parliamentary reserve was a set of subsidies voted every year in the state budget. LThe deputies and senators, from the majority as well as the opposition, then donated it as they wished to associations or municipalities of their choice. This system, which was the subject of strong criticism, was removed in 2017 when the law on the moralization of public life was adopted, but it could return.
130,000 euros per MP
In 2016, duringIn the last year of existence, the parliamentary reserve cost public finances around 80 million euros. That represents for each elected official an average of 130,000 euros to be redistributed. That could even be more for some. PFor example, committee chairs were entitled to double and the largest envelope went to the President of the National Assembly: a little over 500,000 euros.
This money was then redistributed at the discretion of elected officials. If we always take the year 2016 and the public list of some 16,000 grants paid, oWe can see that deputies have financed repairs to church roofs, the development of play areas or even the organization of festivals… Csome, like Olivier Faure for example, who was president of the socialist group at the time, had chosen to give 18,000 euros to the town of Savigny-le-Temple, in Seine-et-Marne, for its operations, but also 5 000 euros to a football club in his constituency. In opposition, Les Républicains MP Eric Ciotti had chosen among his beneficiaries a Nice pétanque club, to which he had given 1,500 euros.
Suspicions of cronyism
At the time, these subsidies were criticized. Elected officials denounced clientelism but also a lack of transparency, because that for years MPs did not need to declare what they did with their parliamentary reserve. celThis was the case until 2013, when the Assembly decided to publish the list of all beneficiary associations and municipalities. Put in 2017, the law on the moralization of public life effectively permanently removed this parliamentary reservation.
Some elected officials who voted for its removal at the time are now calling for its return. IThey say they regret their vote and highlight their “fine knowledge of their constituencies” For “revitalize territories”. While calling for better supervision of the parliamentary reserve, to guarantee the proper use of public funds.