On a financial level, elections are crucial for political parties as they determine the allocation of a crucial element of their finances: state funding. A poor election result can lead to an economic disaster. Following the 2007 legislative elections, the National Front (now National Rally, RN) had to sell its headquarters, the “Paquebot”, in Saint-Cloud (Hauts-de-Seine). The same experience was seen at the Socialist Party in 2017, with Solférino. During the legislative elections held on June 30 and July 7, the distribution of the 66.43 million euros of public funding allocated to political parties for the year 2024 was decided. The amount each party is expected to receive in the summer of 2025 was estimated by Le Monde, once all appeals against the results of the various polling stations are exhausted.
It is important to note that only parties that have exceeded the threshold of 1% of votes in at least fifty constituencies should receive between 1 euro and 2 euros per vote – 1.61 euro in 2024, according to the National Commission for Campaign Accounts and Political Financing. Parties will also receive 37,200 euros per senator and deputy. For some parties, these early legislative elections have been a blessing. Following the elections, the RN is expected to increase its public subsidies from 10.1 million euros to 18.4 million euros per year (+82%). This windfall will help stabilize the party’s finances after years of financial difficulties, including struggles to repay its Russian loans and the legal costs of multiple scandals.
The party still has 17 million euros in debt to repay according to its treasurer, Moselle MP Kévin Pfeffer. This amount includes a deduction of 1 million euros for non-compliance with gender parity, in accordance with the 2014 law on real equality. The RN had invested twenty-three more men than women. Despite this, the far-right party will still receive an unexpected jackpot considering its previous funding – its subsidies have quadrupled in seven years. It is important to note that the party’s almost non-existent presence in the Senate (three senators) prevents it from receiving higher funding, keeping it a few million euros behind the New Popular Front (NFP) which has significant groups of elected officials in both chambers.
The four parties in the left coalition (La France insoumise, LFI; the Socialist Party, PS; The Greens and the French Communist Party, PCF) are expected to receive around 21.5 million euros in subsidies, which is 3.6 million euros more than the New Ecological and Social Popular Union (Nupes) in 2022. This reflects a progression in the polls, as the coalition gained three million votes in the first round and elected twenty-two additional deputies. This shift in the distribution of funding highlights the changing landscape of political power and alliances in France. Ultimately, the results of the legislative elections will have a significant impact on the financial stability and future prospects of each political party as they navigate the complexities of the French political landscape.
