The French LoLF - Guy Cazenave-Lacroutz, France

The French LoLF - Guy Cazenave-Lacroutz, France

• 1.
  AN ADAPTABLE FORCEDEDICATED TO CRISIS MANAGEMENT IN A COMPLETE RANGE OF SITUATIONS GENDARMERIE NATIONALE ( Budget program n°152 ) A security force with a military status acting for the Ministry of the Interior's mission « Sécurités » for national security
• 2.
  The Gendarmerie Nationaleis responsible for public safety over 95 % of metropolitan France and 50 % of the French population. In that respect, it can rely on a territorial network of 2 995 local units. . brigades de gendarmerie █ zone de la police nationale
• 3.
  THE NATIONAL SECURITYMISSION : A GOVERNMENT PRIORITY
• 4.
  Distribution by itemsfor budget program n°152 i.e.Gendarmerie Nationale. Cash-limit appropriations (CP) in M€ (2016 Initial Budget Act )
• 5.
  SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS PROVIDEDBY THE CONSTITUTIONAL BYLAW ON BUDGET ACTS (LOLF) : - in relation with the members of parliament ; - in relation with our « budgetary correspondants »; - concerning the Gendarmerie Nationale's internal organization .
• 6.
  In relation withthe members of parliament : - it provides an enhanced visibility for the program budget needs (Annual Performance Project / Zero-base budgeting ) and how cash-limit appropriations are being used (Annual Performance Report). This visibility is reinforced thanks to : - the campaign for the parliament budgetary questions ; - the reports made by the national Court of Auditors ; - the hearings made by the Gendarmerie Nationale Head Director for the various parliamentary commissions during the budget Bill.
• 7.
  In relation withour « budgetary correspondants »: - The Budget Directorate : enhanced understanding of our needs (meetings on the 3-year budget drafting and the annual follow-ups); - The Ministry of the Interior Budgetary Control Officer : Report on the Initial Distribution of Cash-limit appropriations and Positions (DRICE)/ Accounting and program management reports - The Ministry of the Interior Directorate for Financial Affairs ( DEPAFI) in acting as the representant for the Ministry Advisor for Financial Affairs (RFFiM).
• 8.
  Concerning the GendarmerieNationale's internal organization: - The transition from an hyper-centralized organization (1 operating budget program -BOP- for a unique Program) to a decentralized budgetary organization (excepting wage costs) providing more responsibilities to local centers of decision (10 operating budget programs for 62 operational units). - The set up of a management policy aiming at standardizing the interactions between the Head of the Program (RPROG) and the program operating budget administrators (RBOP), especially concerning managing reports, on budget as well as performance topics.
• 12.
  YET NOTHING ISPERFECT … INDEED : 1) MANY DIFFICULTIES REMAIN TO LINK DIRECTLY THE GRANTED MEANS TO THE RESULTS OBTAINED; 2) THE BUDGETARY RESERVE ISSUE : APPLIED TOO SYSTEMATICALLY, THIS MECHANISM PENALIZES THE GENDARMERIE NATIONALE'S BUDGET BY INCREASING ITS MANDATORY SPENDINGS (especially when fighting terrorism); 3) A DENSE « LOLF-IAN » CALENDAR COUPLED WITH A MULTIPLICATION OF CONTROLS LEADING TO A DEMANDING ACTIVITY FOR ALL FINANCES AND SUPPORT STAFF (even though their activity is not one of the priorities for the national security mission) 4) WHENEVER BUDGETARY DIFFICULTIES OCCUR, SHORT-TERM DECISIONS ARE SYSTEMATICALLY TAKEN. CONSEQUENTLY, DISTINGUINSHING GOOD BUDGETARY ADMINISTRATORS FROM BAD ONES IS DIFFICULT (no feedback on the savings being made)