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France to offer free therapy for children affected by Covid

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced that France would offer free therapy sessions with a psychologist for children and adolescents whose mental health has been hurt by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Published: 15 April 2021 08:00 CEST
France to offer free therapy for children affected by Covid
French President Emmanuel Macron speaks with a child as he visits a child psychiatry department in a hospital in Reims, northern France on April 14th. Photo: CHRISTIAN HARTMANN / POOL / AFP

France’s social security system will fully reimburse a total of 10 sessions with a psychologist for children aged between three and 17, Macron said on a visit to a psychiatric treatment centre in the city of Reims.

“We have today a health problem that is affecting our children and adolescents and that is adding to the epidemic,” he said after meeting both patients and psychologists. 

Macron said that cases of anxiety and other psychological problems had been increasing among young people in a way that had not been seen during the first lockdown against Covid-19 last year.

France is currently in a third nationwide lockdown to fight Covid, although the restrictions are far more limited than in the previous two shutdowns.

READ ALSO: When can I travel more than 10km from home during France’s ‘partial lockdown’?

The country kept its schools open much longer than other European neighbours during the second and third virus waves although it has effectively now extended the spring holidays to keep a lid on a jump in cases.

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POLITICS

Dating apps and pet-sitters: What can French MPs claim on expenses?

A French MP recently came under fire for using public funds to pay for things like her dating app subscription and pet-sitting services - while this is not within the scope of official expenses, there are plenty of other perks for French lawmakers.

Published: 13 September 2024 09:57 CEST
Dating apps and pet-sitters: What can French MPs claim on expenses?

Christine Engrand, a Rassemblement National (RN) MP for Pas-de-Calais, was found to have used her parliamentary stipend – intended for work-related expenses – for personal purchases between 2022 and 2023.

French investigative website, Médiapart, reported that Engrand spent €39 a month on a dating website, pet-sitting for her two dogs while she was in Paris for work (€27 a day), as well as her mother’s funeral expenses (€5,000).

The MP admitted on X that she had used some public funds for private purposes, claiming that she had confused her personal bank card with the professional one and that the expenses in question had been reimbursed.

How does payment for MPs work in France?

MPs are paid a salary, as well as two allowances to cover expenses related to their mandate – the first is the ‘advance for parliamentary expenses’ and the second is the staff credit.

As for the ‘advance’, this totalled €5,950, as of 2024, and it was set up in 2018 to help cover other expenses related to the MP’s mandate that are not directly covered or reimbursed by the Assemblée.

Expenses are verified, and each elected member is audited at least once per parliamentary term.

These funds are meant to be paid into a specific account and the unused portion is put back into the budget of the Assemblée Nationale at the end of their term.

It was this fund that the RN MP used for her personal expenses, which is problematic considering this is only intended to be related to her duties as an elected official.

MPs are also given a monthly budget of €11,118 to pay for the hiring of up to five staff members. It is forbidden to employ family members, but the MP does get to recruit, fire and set the working rules and salaries of staff.

READ MORE: Will my French deputé help me with a local problem?

What about their salaries?

French MPs have been paid salaries since 1938, when the standard was created with the goal of ensuring that députés are able to remain independent and fully focused on their duties as elected officials.

This is called the indemnité parlementaire de base, and it comes out to €5,931.95 (pre tax) per month. On top of that, MPs are given a housing stipend of €177.96 per month, and an indemnité de fonction (duty allowance) which totals €1,527.48.

In total, an MPs gross monthly salary comes out to €7,637.39.

For certain MPs, this can be higher depending on their position. For example, the President of the Assemblée earns €7,698.50.

What about other perks?

The Assemblée Nationale also covers the expenses for French MPs to travel for free along the national rail network (SNCF) in France, in either 1st or 2nd class.

The Assemblée also offers MPs a fleet of a dozen chauffeur-driven vehicles that can be used while travelling in Paris and in the Paris region, subject to their availability, if they are travelling for a work-related purpose.

MPs also benefit from two restaurants and refreshment bar (buvette) that are intended for members of parliament, as well as two self-service cafeterias.

For MPs without accommodation in the Paris area, they can benefit from a reimbursement of up to €1,200 per month when renting a place in Paris, but this location cannot be their main residence and the owner cannot be the MP, their spouse or any family members.

How does that compare to the average French person?

The MP salary is more than four times France’s minimum wage, which is currently set to €1,767 (gross) per month.

Meanwhile, Actu France reported that MP’s salaries come out to more than three times the disposable income of the average French person, which is estimated at €2,028 (gross) per month, citing 2022 INSEE data.

If this is sounding pretty appealing, then you could run for office. Just remember – to be elected to French parliament you must hold French nationality, be at least 18 (for MPs) or 24 (for senators), and not be in “any position of incapacity or ineligibility” such as being under legal guardianship.

It is not required to have been French from birth in order to become an MP (or to become the president for that matter).

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