"We didn't know who the money would go to": many LR elected officials do not pay their contributions, the party calls for "regularizations"

This represents a shortfall of several hundred thousand euros: in the Les Républicains party, around 50% of parliamentarians are not up to date with their contributions for the year 2025, according to information from the Politico newsletter "Playbook Paris", confirmed by BFMTV.com this Thursday, June 19.

The new LR treasurer, Pierre Danon, appointed following the election of Bruno Retailleau last month, wrote to the various elected officials to ask them to "regularize" their situation.

In other words, the people concerned are called upon to pay a contribution of 5% of their income to the right-wing party, as provided for in the party's statutes.

For LR, this represents a significant sum just under two years before the next presidential election. If its approximately 160 senators and deputies gave it this participation, the party would recover around 600,000 euros per year, Politico calculates.

Speaking to BFMTV.com, Bruno Retailleau's entourage confirmed the existence of this letter. "It's typical to receive this reminder. It doesn't mean they aren't members. There's the membership fee (30 euros per year, editor's note) and the elected official fee, which represents a higher cost," we're told.

Faced with these payment delays, the various LR elected officials contacted by BFMTV.com were not disappointed.

One of them puts forward two reasons for the current situation. First, the alliance of the party's former leader, Éric Ciotti, with the National Rally following the dissolution of the National Assembly decided by Emmanuel Macron on June 9, 2024.

"We didn't have a president, so we didn't know who the money was going to go to," he explains, while the Alpes-Maritimes MP remained at the LR head for several months, even though party officials were trying to exclude him.

The second explanation comes from the early legislative elections that followed the dissolution. LR "didn't give us a cent," the same elected official emphasizes.

Another MP noted that this situation had already occurred during the previous election in 2022. "Usually, the party helps us in the legislative elections. This time, that was not the case. In return, a number of parliamentarians felt they did not have to contribute," she explained.

The lack of funds can be explained by the historic disaster in the 2022 presidential election . The party had not received reimbursement for its campaign expenses, failing to reach the crucial 5% threshold. A call for donations was therefore launched to help balance the budget, raising more than five million euros.

While these various elements may have fueled "a form of anger" within the parliamentary ranks of the right, the time is ripe for optimism. One name crops up regularly: Bruno Retailleau.

The Interior Minister and leader of the LR party has been on the rise for several months, to the point where he is among the potential candidates for the Élysée Palace. At the same time, his party is regaining momentum, a trend confirmed in several recent by-elections.

The direct consequence: the LR brand is regaining value. And there's no doubt that this development will lead some elected officials to make their contribution.