Jordan Bardella’s State‑Funded Security Costs for Holiday Trips Revealed

The French interior ministry’s Service de la Protection (SDLP) provides personal security to Jordan Bardella, leader of the Rassemblement National, even during private vacations. The SDLP employs about 1,400‑1,500 agents, with roughly 700 dedicated to close protection. A ministerial estimate places the average annual cost of a protected official between €66,000 and €72,000 per functionary, covering salaries and overhead.

When Bardella travels with a standard team of two to three agents, additional operational expenses accrue. For a week’s stay on the French Riviera or the Italian coast, these costs—air travel, meal allowances, hotel rooms (€90‑€120 per night), and vehicle rentals—add roughly €3,000‑€5,000 to the state bill. All such expenses are financed from the public budget under the decree of 12 August 2013 and the law of 21 March 2024 that expanded protection to candidates facing threats.