An increase of 305 euros per month. This Wednesday, the political groups present at the National Assembly decided to increase their advance mandate fees (AFM). They will thus increase from 5,645 euros to 5,950 euros per month, an increase of 5.4%. On Wednesday, all political groups present in the National Assembly voted in favor, with the exception of La France Insoumise which abstained. A decision which provoked many heated reactions, particularly on social networks.
This increase in the AFM is justified by inflation, and aims to “deal with the impact of inflation on professional expenses”, details the minutes of the meeting published on the website of the AFM. National Assembly. The AFM is an endowment allowing deputies to pay for their parliamentary permanence, to cover the costs associated with travel, accommodation, documentation, reception or representation. This envelope is independent of the remuneration of deputies, which amounts to 7,637 euros gross per month.
MPs will also now be able to use their AFM to pay for the care of their children “when these expenses are linked to the specific constraints of parliamentary work, in particular night sessions”. The only condition: they will not be able to request a tax deduction at the same time.
A criticized decision
The increase in the AFM was widely criticized, including within the Assembly. The LFI deputy for the Somme François Ruffin reacted on Peasants, who help their colleagues in difficulty,” he writes.
300 euros more for deputies? This is the monthly income of a third of farmers!
I will pay these 300 euros to Solidarité Paysans, which provides help to their colleagues in difficulty. https://t.co/clqStrKYCQ
— François Ruffin (@Francois_Ruffin) January 24, 2024
As for the National Rally, after having voted on Wednesday in favor of this increase in the AFM, the deputies are asking this Thursday for the postponement of this increase which has caused “certain emotion among our compatriots in a period where the purchasing power of very many French people are very degraded.
Expenditures linked to the AFM have been controlled since 2018 and replace the controversial representative compensation for mandate costs (IRFM), the use of which was not verified and which gave rise to abuses. The sums remaining each year in the AFM envelopes are returned to the treasury of the National Assembly.