On July 14, as France celebrated its national holiday with the traditional fireworks display from the Eiffel Tower, the Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné had the privilege of witnessing the event from a unique vantage point. According to Mediapart, a last-minute intervention by Matignon's services allowed the exceptional opening of the terrace of the Palais d'Iéna, headquarters of the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), so that the two ministers could enjoy the spectacle.
Exceptional and contested access
The Palais d'Iéna, located near the Place d'Iéna, offers breathtaking views of the Eiffel Tower. Usually this space can be rented privately to generate income for Cese. However, in this specific case, access was granted free of charge, which raised questions about the use of this institutional location for private purposes. No member of Cese was present during this exceptional opening.
Security Rationale
Asked by Mediapart, Gabriel Attal's communications team explained that the decision to go to the Palace of Iéna was motivated by security reasons. Initially, the Prime Minister had planned to view the fireworks from the public highway, near Place d'Iéna. However, the security conditions were not considered satisfactory by the Prime Minister's security group, due to restrictions on access to certain emblematic places near the Eiffel Tower, in particular because of the imminence of the ceremony. opening of the Olympic Games.
A discreet evening at no extra cost
The Quai d'Orsay specified that the presence of Gabriel Attal and Stéphane Séjourné was limited to the duration of the fireworks display and that this visit did not entail any costs for the State. The two ministers, who were a couple before separating in 2022, arrived at the Jena Palace after a working dinner, as the country was recovering from the disappointing results of the legislative elections for the presidential camp.
Conclusion
This revelation from Mediapart raises questions about the use of public places by political leaders for private occasions. Although security has been cited as a justification, the free use of a prestigious public space for a leisure event raises questions about fairness and transparency in access to these resources. Gabriel Attal and Stéphane Séjourné, now resigned but still in charge of day-to-day affairs, find themselves under fire for having taken advantage of this exceptional situation.
