In the midst of the debates on the pension reform, François Hollande declared this Monday morning on BFMTV that he was currently receiving “4000 euros of retirement as former president of the Republic”. A pension that he combines with his parliamentary retirement to reach a total of “11 to 12,000 euros.”
“It is much less than what happens abroad,” he added.
The law of April 3, 1955 establishes a kind of special retirement regime, along with a “life pension” for former Presidents of the Republic. In 2019, Emmanuel Macron had announced to him, in advance, that he would renounce his retirement as former head of state.
• USA
A former occupant of the White House is entitled to a pension for life, as long as he has not been charged. The amount of this pension is equivalent to the salary of a senior government executive. In 2022 it amounts to 226,300 dollars per year (210,000 euros, or more than 17,000 euros per month).
In accordance with the Law of Ex-Presidents, a law promulgated in 1958, this pension is received at the end of the mandate. In addition, a former President of the United States is exempt from health insurance and employee and office expense benefits, not to exceed an annualized total of $150,000 for the first 30 months and then $96,000 thereafter.
All former presidents enjoy lifetime Secret Service protection, as well as for their children up to age 16 and their spouse. Widows of former presidents are entitled to an annual pension of $20,000 for life.
• United Kingdom
The debate over the retirement of former British prime ministers reignited last fall, when Liz Truss only stayed in office for 45 days. However, under current law, she and the 10 Downing Street alumni are eligible for lifetime benefits.
Once they are no longer in office, they can receive a maximum sum of 115,000 pounds a year (129,000 euros). This amount was set to cover the cost of continuing to hold public office, while many former Prime Ministers continue to work for the state, such as Liz Truss, Boris Johnson or Theresa May. This is how costs are controlled.
There is also a severance package, which consists of a single payment of 25% of the annual salary of the ministers left. In the case of Prime Ministers, it amounts to about 19,000 pounds.
With regard directly to the retirement pension, it amounts to 10% of this endowment of 115,000 per month, or almost 13,000 euros per month. Former British Prime Ministers also have the right ad vitam to a desk, a secretary and a car with a driver.
• Germany
Former German chancellors are entitled to a pension of a minimum of 4,000 euros, provided their term has lasted at least four years. In addition, the amount of this pension increases according to the number of years in office.
Thus, Angela Merkel receives around 15,000 euros per month for her sixteen years in the Bundestag, to which is added a security service, a car with a driver, an office with two assistants and a secretary, until the end of her life. The amount also takes into account her many years (31, Ed) of her as a parliamentarian or minister.
His predecessor, Gerhard Schröder, who remained in office for seven years, receives around 7,000 euros a month, which he has been able to combine with his salary since he entered the business world after his terms.
Even if his title is essentially honorary, the Federal President of Germany receives a pension ranging from 80 to 100% of his salary during his term in office. So according to Der Spiegel, former president Joachim Gauck receives an annual “honorary remuneration” of 250,000 euros. A sum that comes with a paid office in the city of his choice.
• Spain
According to a 1992 royal decree, former Spanish heads of government are entitled to a lifetime salary of around 80,000 euros gross per year, or 6,200 per month. This pension is not cumulative with others.
By way of illustration, the former President of the Government has resumed his old position and receives 15,000 euros per month for it. Then, if he wishes, he can request his pension as a former executive officer or his other activity.
In addition to this pension, the former presidents also have two civil servants for life (a personal assistant and a secretary), as well as an allowance for office expenses, “social services and real estate rental”, and a car with a driver, escort and security. They can also travel for free since they have a free pass “in air, sea and land transport”.
In France, former Presidents of the Republic also have benefits beyond the amount of the pension. These have been revised downwards under François Hollande. Henceforth, during the five years following the end of his term, the President of the Republic has seven collaborators and two agents ensure his protection, then respectively three and one. They also benefit from “official accommodation”.
Source: BFM TV
