Castles, works of art, sailing ships... Focus on the heritage of the Bayrou government

Under Emmanuel Macron's presidency, inequalities are widening (the poorest 5% are said to have seen their standard of living decrease by ≃ €240 per year between 2018 and 2020, while the richest 5% gained around €5,500 per year), while ministers are increasingly rich . In 2022, Élisabeth Borne's government already had 19 millionaires, and yet it had four more ministers than the current one! This is the picture drawn up by the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life , shared on Tuesday, June 10. According to AFP, the 36 members of the government have an average net worth of more than €2.6 million, double that of their leader, François Bayrou, whose €1.3 million is mostly invested in real estate.

Transparency of policies, essential to democracy

Transparency of the assets of political leaders is a pillar of democratic trust . It allows citizens to ensure that those who exercise power do so in the service of the general interest, and not their personal interests. This is precisely the role of the High Authority for Transparency in Public Life (HATVP), created in 2013 following the Cahuza c affairs , to supervise and monitor the declarations of assets and interests of elected officials and ministers . By making this information public, the HATVP plays a safeguard role: it prevents conflicts of interest, deters illicit enrichment and reinforces the requirement for exemplary behavior. In a context where mistrust of the political class remains high, this transparency approach has become an essential democratic requirement.

Politicians with the best assets

In this government where wealth is not the exception but the norm, some boast fortunes that would make many business leaders green with envy. At the top of the list is Marc Ferracci, with a net worth of nearly €23 million , mainly thanks to his shares in the family business Icare Finance. Just behind, Éric Lombard, former head of the Caisse des Dépôts, has more than €21 million in high-end real estate, a consulting firm, an art collection, and a sailboat. Rachida Dati , now Minister of Culture, follows with €6 million , despite the conspicuous absence of jewelry or luxury watches in her declaration. More discreet but equally wealthy, Véronique Louwagie and Jean-Noël Barrot each exceed €5 million. Conversely, Manuel Valls, in Overseas France, and Gérald Darmanin, in Justice, are the least fortunate.

We have examined the declarations of the six richest people in the Bayrou government: here is what makes up their assets.