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The Senate? An institution that escapes state control. From the details of its budget to the senators' concerns about its survival, and the scandals that shake it, Pièces à conviction takes a tour of this venerable house − weakened by cash withdrawals, fraudulent use of the resources allocated to the upper house and misappropriation of the parliamentary reserve. The 35,000 m2 palace where the Senate sits is located in the heart of the Luxembourg Gardens. But the cachet of their workplace is not the only advantage of senators: in addition to their monthly salary of 5,000 euros, they also have an envelope of 6,000 euros for their expenses. Also moving in the corridors are 1,200 civil servants recruited by competitive examination. Gardeners and maintenance workers start their careers at 2,200 euros net per month, while drivers and typists start at 5,000 euros per month. As for the administrators, they end their careers at 10,000 euros. While the Senate's influence in the development of laws is diminishing and some politicians would like to have it abolished, the Pièces à conviction team went to meet newly arrived senators and lifts the veil on the behind the scenes of an institution that is now decried.