The operating budget of the Élysée Palace.

The Élysée, the place where each French president has left his mark. Built in the 18th century, this residence has improved like an old French wine. Gilding, chandeliers, red carpets, and breathtaking gardens. Dinners remain feasts worthy of Louis 14. But behind the splendor, it is a place of crucial decisions. An elegant palace steeped in history, where every corner exudes power. Let's explore together the financial functioning of this nugget.

The history of the Élysée Palace.

The Élysée Palace, anchored in the heart of Paris at 55 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, embodies both the architectural history and politics of France. Initially built between 1718 and 1722 as a private mansion for Louis-Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, it was transformed into the official residence of the President of the French Republic in 1848. This majestic building, in classical style, designed by the architects Étienne — Louis Boulle.
The Élysée Palace, covering a total area of ​​11,179 m², houses 365 rooms, including 90 in the basement and 300 m² reserved for private apartments. Surrounded by a 1.5 hectare park, this prestigious site is home to around a hundred plant species, including historic plane trees dating back to before 1789, one reaching an impressive height of 40 meters.
Around 800 people work at the Élysée, with varied functions such as managing correspondence, processing between 1,500 and 2,000 letters daily, and a team of 350 military personnel. The palace also houses a remarkable collection with 320 clocks, wound every Tuesday by a master watchmaker, 2,000 precious pieces of furniture, 200 tapestries, 6,000 silver coins.
The automobile fleet includes 75 cars, in addition to those used for the presidential procession since 1913. Access to the palace is provided by six entrances, with an official address at 55 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré.

The expenses of the Élysée.

As part of the finance law for 2002, article 115 stipulates that the Presidency of the Republic must provide a budget document to Parliament for the millions committed. For the year 2024, adjustments remain necessary despite previous internal efforts to manage expenses. Applying a cumulative inflation rate from 2018 to 2022 would lead to a theoretical allocation of 125.9 million euros, compared to the 105.3 million initially planned. Expenditures in the Élysée budget in 2024 break down as follows: 75.8 million for staff, 19.1 million for operations, 21.1 million for presidential travel, and 9.1 million for investments, including 4.5 million for the 2024-2027 real estate master plan.

Recipes from the Élysée.

For the execution of the 2024 budget, the necessary resources amount to 125.1 million euros. This amount includes an allocation of 122,563 million entered in the general state budget, supplemented by own revenues of 2,546 million euros. This allocation marks a significant increase compared to the previous year, where the total budget value stood at €114,428 million in 2023, illustrating the adjustments required to meet the accumulated operating and investment requirements of the President .

In short, the Élysée is much more than a gilded residence: it is a theater where luxury meets governance. With its colossal budgets and feasts worthy of royal galas, this is where French politics comes to life, between carefully wound clocks and breathtaking gardens. Long live France, and long live the Élysée.