The head of the government of France has been called the prime minister of France (French: Premier ministre) since 1959, when Michel Debré became the first officeholder appointed under the Fifth Republic. During earlier periods of French history, the country's head of government was known by different titles. As was common in European democracies of the 1815–1958 period (the Bourbon Restoration and July Monarchy, the Second, Third, and Fourth Republic, as well as the Vichy regime), the head of government was called President of the Council of Ministers (Président du Conseil des ministres), generally shortened to President of the council (Président du Conseil). This should not be confused with the elected office of president of the French Republic, who, as head of state, appoints the prime minister as head of government.
16th century – 18th century
Kingdom of France (843–1792)
Under the Kingdom of France, there was no official title for the leader of the government as the monarch held absolute power. However, conventions developed that the monarch would not act without the advice of royal council. The chief ministers (principaux ministres) of these councils under certain kings of France exercised enough influence to lead the government de facto. This situation ended with the start of the French Revolution as the adoption of a constitution in 1791 reframed the power dynamics of the monarchy. As the revolution progressed, the power dynamics continued to shift and ultimately resulted in the execution of the monarch and the establishment of a republic.
| Chief minister (Lifespan) | Term of office | King (Reign) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anne de Montmorency (1493–1567) | 1 January 1515 | 14 June 1541 | Francis I (1515–1547) | |
| Claude d'Annebault (1495–1552) | 1541 | 31 March 1547 | ||
| Anne de Montmorency (1493–1567) | 1 April 1547 | 10 August 1557 | Henry II (1547–1559) | |
| Position vacant (absolute rule by Henry II) | 11 August 1557 | 10 July 1559 | ||
| Francis, Duke of Guise (1519–1563) | 10 July 1559 | 5 December 1560 | Francis II (1559–1560) | |
| Michel de l'Hôpital (1507–1573) | 5 December 1560 | 13 March 1573 (Died in office) | Charles IX (1560–1574) | |
| René de Birague (1506–1583) | 30 May 1574 | 24 November 1583 (Died in office) | Henry III (1574–1589) | |
| Philippe Hurault de Cheverny (1528–1599) | 24 November 1583 | 12 May 1588 | ||
| Position vacant (absolute rule by Henry III) | 12 May 1588 | 2 August 1589 | ||
| Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully (1560–1641) | 2 August 1589 | 29 January 1611 | Henry IV (1589–1610) | |
| Nicolas de Neufville, seigneur de Villeroy (1543–1617) | 30 January 1611 | 9 August 1616 | Louis XIII (1610–1643) | |
| Concino Concini (1569–1617) | 9 August 1616 | 24 April 1617 (Died in office) | ||
| Charles d'Albert, duc de Luynes (1578–1621) | 24 April 1617 | 15 December 1621 (Died in office) | ||
| Position vacant (absolute rule by Louis XIII) | 15 December 1621 | 12 August 1624 | ||
| Cardinal Richelieu (1585–1642) | 12 August 1624 | 4 December 1642 (Died in office) | ||
| Louis XIV (1643–1715) | ||||
| Cardinal Mazarin (1602–1661) | 5 December 1642 | 9 March 1661 (Died in office) | ||
| Position vacant (absolute rule by Louis XIV) | 9 March 1661 | 1 September 1715 | ||
| Guillaume Dubois (1656–1723) | 12 September 1715 | 10 August 1723 (Died in office) | Louis XV (1715–1774) | |
| Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (1674–1723) | 10 August 1723 | 2 December 1723 (Died in office) | ||
| Louis Henri, Duke of Bourbon (1692–1740) | 2 December 1723 | 11 June 1726 | ||
| André-Hercule de Fleury (1653–1743) | 11 June 1726 | 29 January 1743 (Died in office) | ||
| Position vacant (absolute rule by Louis XV) | 29 January 1743 | 3 December 1758 | ||
| Étienne François de Choiseul, Duke of Choiseul (1719–1785) | 3 December 1758 | 24 December 1770 | ||
| René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou (1714–1792) | 25 December 1770 | 23 August 1774 | ||
| Jacques Turgot (1727–1781) | 24 August 1774 | 12 May 1776 | Louis XVI (1774–1792) | |
| Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas (1701–1781) | 14 May 1776 | 21 November 1781 (Died in office) | ||
| Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes (1717–1787) | 21 November 1781 | 13 February 1787 (Died in office) | ||
| Étienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne (1727–1794) | 1 May 1787 | 25 August 1788 | ||
| Jacques Necker (1732–1804) | 25 August 1788 | 11 July 1789 | ||
| Louis Auguste Le Tonnelier de Breteuil (1730–1807) | 11 July 1789 | 16 July 1789 | ||
| Jacques Necker (1732–1804) | 16 July 1789 | 3 September 1790 | ||
| Armand Marc, comte de Montmorin (1745–1792) | 3 September 1790 | 3 September 1791 | ||
| Constitutional cabinet (supervisioned by Legislative Assembly) | 3 September 1791 | 21 September 1792 | ||
18th century – 19th century
French First Republic (1792–1804)
During the First Republic, there were three arrangements for governance, the leadership of which changed frequently. The first government was that of the National Convention (20 September 1792 – 2 November 1795) and did not provide for a formal head of state or a head of government. The President of the National Convention would only serve for a term of 14 days at a time. Even though the President was re-eligible to return to the office after another term had passed, this rarely occurred. Notable Presidents during this period included:
- Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve (20 September – 4 October 1792)
- Georges Danton (25 July – 8 August 1793)
- Maximilien Robespierre (22 August – 7 September 1793 and 4 June – 19 June 1794)
- Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès (7 October – 22 October 1794)
- Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès (20 April – 5 May 1795)
Given the dissatisfaction with the National Convention a new Constitution was adopted in 1795 which created the a five member executive called the Directory (2 November 1795 – 10 November 1799). The members of the Directory were elected by the legislature who themselves in turn elected a ceremonial President whose term lasted only three months. Paul Barras, who served two stints as President (4 December 1797 – 25 February 1798 and 26 November 1798 – 26 May 1799), came to be the dominant member of the group.
In 1799, the Directory was superseded when a coup d'état headed by Napoleon Bonaparte forced the sitting members to resign. A new constitution was written establishing the Consulate (10 November 1799 – 18 May 1804). While initially a coequal of the other Consuls, Napoleon quickly set himself up as "First Consul of France" and later "Consul for Life" under yet another constitution.
French First Empire (1804–1815)
On May 18, 1804 the French Senate bestowed the title of "Emperor of the French" on Napoleon and he coronated himself on December 2, 1804. As Emperor, Napoleon was both head of state and head of government under the new constitution.
| Chief minister | Term of office | Faction | Emperor (Reign) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position vacant (absolute rule by Napoleon) | 1 | 18 May 1804 | 1 April 1814 | Vacant | Napoleon (1804–1814) | |
First Restoration (1814–1815)
Following Napoleon's defeat in the War of the Sixth Coalition, he was exiled to the island of Elba. Louis XVIII, brother of the executed King Louis XVI, was placed on the newly restored throne of the French monarchy. Unlike the previous Ancien régime, the prerogative of the new monarch was limited by the Charter of 1814.
| Chief minister | Term of office | Faction | King (Reign) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754–1838) (as President of the Council) | 1 | 1 April 1814 | 2 May 1814 | Independent | Louis XVIII (1814–1815) | ||
| Pierre Louis Jean Casimir de Blacas (1771–1839) | 2 | 2 May 1814 | 8 July 1815 | ||||
Hundred Days (1815)
In March 1815, Napoleon left his exile and returned to France. The government of the Louis XVIII fled to the city of Ghent. Napoleon reinstated his role as both head of state and head of government. Upon Napoleon's abdication, his son Napoleon II was named Emperor. This rule was nominal, and Napoleon II, then a four-year old child, remained in Austria throughout his nominal reign.
| Chief Minister | Term of office | Faction | Emperor (Reign) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position vacant (absolute rule by Napoleon I) | 2 | 20 March 1815 | 22 June 1815 | Vacant | Napoleon I (1815) | ||
| Joseph Fouché (1759–1820) (as President of the Executive Commission) | • | 22 June 1815 | 7 July 1815 | Bonapartist | Napoleon II (1815) | ||
Bourbon Restoration (1815–1830)
Following his second defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, Napoleon was again exiled, this time to the island of St. Helena. Louis XVIII returned to Paris and to his role as constitutional monarch.
Presidents of the Council of Ministers
| President of the Council of Ministers (Lifespan) | Term of office | Faction | Legislature (Election) | King (Reign) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Duration | ||||||||
| Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord (1754–1838) | • | 9 July 1815 | 26 September 1815 | 79 days | Independent | I (Chambre introuvable) (1815) | Louis XVIII (1815–1824) | ||
| Armand-Emmanuel de Vignerot du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu (1766–1822) | 1 | 26 September 1815 | 29 December 1818 | 3 years, 94 days | |||||
| Jean-Joseph, Marquis Dessolles (1767–1828) | • | 29 December 1818 | 19 November 1819 | 325 days | Doctrinaires | II (1816) | |||
| Élie Decazes, duc de Glücksbierg and Decazes (1780–1860) | • | 19 November 1819 | 20 February 1820 | 93 days | |||||
| Armand-Emmanuel de Vignerot du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu (1766–1822) | 2 | 20 February 1820 | 14 December 1821 | 1 year, 297 days | III (1820) | ||||
| Jean-Baptiste de Villèle (1773–1854) | • | 14 December 1821 | 4 January 1828 | 6 years, 21 days | Ultra-royalist | ||||
| IV (1824) | Charles X (1824–1830) | ||||||||
| Jean Baptiste Gay, vicomte de Martignac (1778–1832) | • | 4 January 1828 | 8 August 1829 | 1 year, 216 days | Doctrinaires | V (1827) | |||
| Jules de Polignac, duc de Polignac (1780–1847) | • | 8 August 1829 | 29 July 1830 | 355 days | Ultra-royalist | ||||
| Casimir de Rochechouart, duc de Mortemart (1787–1875) | • | 29 July 1830 | 0 days | ||||||
July Monarchy (1830–1848)
When King Charles X was coronated he swore to uphold the constitutional Charter of 1814, but as his reign progressed he was seen to be increasingly in conflict with it. In 1830 the tension came to a climax when Charles dissolved the legislature, suspended certain liberties, and barred the middle class from participating in future elections. These July Ordinances in turn triggered outrage in Paris which resulted in the July Revolution. The revolution resulted in Charles X abdicating the throne in favor of his cousin Louis Philippe, Duke of Orléans who promised to maintain a liberal constitutional monarchy under the Charter of 1830. Unlike the previous Charter, which was self-imposed by the monarch, the 1830 charter emanated from the people. This popular monarchy was reflected in Louis Philippe's title of "King of the French" (roi des Français) rather than "King of France" (roi de France).
Presidents of the Council of Ministers
- Factions
Independent
Orléanist
Doctrinaires/Movement Party
Resistance Party
| President of the Council of Ministers (Lifespan) | Term of office | Faction | Legislature (Election) | King (Reign) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Duration | ||||||||
| Position vacant (government led by Louis Philippe I) | (0) 1 | 1 August 1830 | 2 November 1830 | 93 days | Orléanist | I (1830) | Louis Philippe I (1830–1848) | ||
| Jacques Laffitte (1767–1844) | • | 2 November 1830 | 13 March 1831 | 131 days | |||||
| Casimir Pierre Périer (1777–1832) | • | 13 March 1831 | 16 May 1832 | 1 year, 64 days | Resistance Party | II (1831) | |||
| Jean-de-Dieu Soult (1769–1851) | 1 | 11 October 1832 | 18 July 1834 | 1 year, 280 days | Orléanist | ||||
| Étienne Maurice Gérard (1773–1852) | • | 18 July 1834 | 10 November 1834 | 115 days | Independent | III (1834) | |||
| Hugues-Bernard Maret (1763–1839) | • | 10 November 1834 | 18 November 1834 | 8 days | |||||
| Édouard Mortier (1768–1835) | • | 18 November 1834 | 12 March 1835 | 114 days | Resistance Party | ||||
| Victor de Broglie (1785–1870) | • | 12 March 1835 | 22 February 1836 | 347 days | |||||
| Adolphe Thiers (1797–1877) | 1 | 22 February 1836 | 6 September 1836 | 197 days | Movement Party | ||||
| Louis-Mathieu Molé (1781–1855) | 1 | 6 September 1836 | 31 March 1839 | 2 years, 206 days | Resistance Party | ||||
| 2 | IV (1837) | ||||||||
| Position vacant (government led by Louis Philippe I) | 2 | 31 March 1839 | 12 May 1839 | 42 days | (Orléanist) | ||||
| Jean-de-Dieu Soult (1769–1851) | 2 | 12 May 1839 | 1 March 1840 | 294 days | Resistance Party | V (1839) | |||
| Adolphe Thiers (1797–1877) | 2 | 1 March 1840 | 29 October 1840 | 242 days | Movement Party | ||||
| Jean-de-Dieu Soult (1769–1851) | 3 | 29 October 1840 | 19 September 1847 | 6 years, 325 days | Resistance Party | VI (1842) | |||
| François Guizot (1787–1874) | • | 19 September 1847 | 23 February 1848 | 157 days | VII (1846) | ||||
| Louis-Mathieu Molé (1781–1855) | 23 February 1848 | 24 February 1848 | 1 day | ||||||
Second French Republic (1848–1852)
The popularity of the new "Citizen King" declined over concerns that the suffrage of the populace was extremely limited to certain property owners. The desire to expand the electorate to a more universal male suffrage was undercut by a 1835 law which prohibited public political assemblies. To circumvent this ban, in 1847 a series of private meeting known as the campagne des banquets were organized. When these banquets were themselves banned popular unrest spilled into the streets in the February Revolution of 1848, which resulted in King Louis Philippe abdicating the throne and triggered a series of revolutions across Europe. A provisional government proclaimed a Second Republic, which would organized under a new constitution which provided for the election of a President. Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, nephew of the former Emperor, won the subsequent election in a landslide.
Presidents of the Council of Ministers
| President of the Council of Ministers (Lifespan) | Term of office | Faction | Legislature (Election) | President (Term) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Duration | ||||||||||
| 1 | Jacques-Charles Dupont de l'Eure (1767–1855) | • | 24 February 1848 | 9 May 1848 | 75 days | Moderate Republican | Const. (1848) | Himself de facto (Provisional) | |||
| 2 | François Arago (1786–1853) | • | 10 May 1848 | 24 June 1848 | 45 days | Executive Commission | |||||
| 3 | Louis-Eugène Cavaignac (1802–1857) | • | 28 June 1848 | 20 December 1848 | 175 days | Himself de facto (Martial Law) | |||||
| 4 | Odilon Barrot (1791–1873) | 1 | 20 December 1848 | 31 October 1849 | 315 days | Party of Order | 1 | Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (1848–1852) | |||
| 2 | Leg. (1849) | ||||||||||
| 5 | Alphonse Henri, comte d'Hautpoul (1789–1865) | • | 31 October 1849 | 24 January 1851 | 1 year, 85 days | ||||||
| Position vacant (government led by Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte) | • | 24 January 1851 | 10 April 1851 | 76 days | Vacant | ||||||
| 6 | Léon Faucher (1803–1854) | • | 10 April 1851 | 26 October 1851 | 199 days | Party of Order | |||||
| Position vacant (government led by Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte) | 26 October 1851 | 2 December 1852 | 1 year, 37 days | Vacant | |||||||
| 1 | |||||||||||
| 2 | |||||||||||
Second French Empire (1852–1870)
Under the constitution of the Second Republic, the President was to serve only one non-renewable term of four years. Bonaparte attempted to pass a constitutional amendment to make him eligible to run for another term, and while the amendment did receive a majority in the legislature, it was not enough to overcome the 2/3 supermajority needed. Believing he had the support of the people to continue in his policies, Bonaparte staged a self-coup on December 2, 1851. A few weeks later, the action was legitimized through a referendum that voted 92% in favor of Bonaparte remaining in office and authorizing him to draft a new constitution. The conduct of this referendum was considered to be rigged. Under the new form of government, Bonaparte was immediately reelected to a new 10 year term with no limits on reelection. About a year later, Bonaparte held another rigged referendum which voted 97% in favor of reestablishing the French Empire. Subsequently, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte coronated himself Emperor Napoleon III, and as such was both head of state and head of government.
The legislative elections of 1869 resulted in an agreement which saw Émile Ollivier lead an independent government. While this was seen by some as a liberalization of the empire, a referendum in 1870 again showed overwhelming support for the Emperor's regime.
Cabinet Chiefs
| Cabinet Chief (Lifespan) | Term of office | Faction | Legislature (Election) | Emperor (Reign) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Duration | ||||||||
| Position vacant (absolute rule by Napoleon III) | 3 | 2 December 1852 | 27 December 1869 | 17 years, 25 days | Vacant | I (1852) | Napoleon III (1852–1870) | ||
| II (1857) | |||||||||
| III (1863) | |||||||||
| 4 | IV (1869) | ||||||||
| Émile Ollivier (1825–1913) | • | 2 January 1870 | 9 August 1870 | 219 days | Bonapartist | ||||
| Charles Cousin-Montauban (1796–1878) | • | 9 August 1870 | 4 September 1870 | 26 days | Independent | ||||
19th century – 20th century
Third French Republic (1870–1940)
In 1870, Napoleon III was facing pressure to combat the growing power of Prussia which was conducting a campaign of unification. Fearing that a new unified German state would disrupt France's place as a world leader, war was declared. The Prussian army proved to be much more effective and during the Battle of Sedan Napoleon III was captured. When the news reached Paris on September 4, a crowd stormed the Palais Bourbon and proclaimed a new republic. A new Government of National Defense was formed with the intention of continuing the war against the Prussians, but Paris remained under siege for the remainder of the war. An armistice was ultimately agreed to and French forces surrendered in January 1871.
The defeated French organized a provisional government which negotiated the Treaty of Frankfurt ending the war. Post war instability and chaos, including the formation and fall of the Paris Commune, led to contentious debates about the formation of this new republic. It was even heavily considered that a third restoration of the monarchy was in order. However, disagreements continued and the organization of the provisional government became permanent with the enactment of the Constitutional Laws of 1875.
President of the Government of National Defense
| President of the Government of National Defense (Lifespan) | Term of office | Faction | Legislature (Election) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Duration | ||||||||
| Louis-Jules Trochu (1815–1896) | • | 4 September 1870 | 22 January 1871 | 140 days | Military | None | |||
Presidents of the Council of Ministers
| President of the Council of Ministers (Lifespan) | Term of office | Political party or faction (Political coalition) | Legislature (Election) | President (Term) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Duration | ||||||||||
| 7 | Jules Armand Dufaure (1798–1881) | 1 | 19 February 1871 | 24 May 1873 | 2 years, 94 days | Moderate Republicans | National Assembly (1871) | 2 | Adolphe Thiers (1871–1873) | ||
| 2 | |||||||||||
| 8 | Albert, duc de Broglie (1821–1901) | 1 | 25 May 1873 | 22 May 1874 | 362 days | Monarchist | 3 | Patrice de MacMahon (1873–1879) | |||
| 2 | |||||||||||
| 9 | Ernest Courtot de Cissey (1810–1882) | • | 22 May 1874 | 10 March 1875 | 292 days | ||||||
| 10 | Louis Buffet (1818–1898) | • | 10 March 1875 | 23 February 1876 | 350 days | ||||||
| (7) | Jules Armand Dufaure (1798–1881) | 3 | 23 February 1876 | 12 December 1876 | 293 days | Moderate Republicans | |||||
| 4 | |||||||||||
| 11 | Jules Simon (1814–1896) | • | 12 December 1876 | 17 May 1877 | 156 days | I (1876) | |||||
| (8) | Albert, duc de Broglie (1821–1901) | 3 | 17 May 1877 | 23 November 1877 | 190 days | Monarchist | |||||
| 12 | Gaëtan de Rochebouët (1813–1899) | • | 23 November 1877 | 13 December 1877 | 20 days | II (1877) | |||||
| (7) | Jules Armand Dufaure (1798–1881) | 5 | 13 December 1877 | 4 February 1879 | 1 year, 53 days | Moderate Republicans | |||||
| 13 | William Waddington (1826–1894) | • | 4 February 1879 | 28 December 1879 | 327 days | 4 | Jules Grévy (1879–1887) | ||||
| 14 | Charles de Freycinet (1828–1923) | 1 | 28 December 1879 | 23 September 1880 | 270 days | ||||||
| 15 | Jules Ferry (1832–1893) | 1 | 23 September 1880 | 14 November 1881 | 1 year, 52 days | ||||||
| 16 | Léon Gambetta (1838–1882) | • | 14 November 1881 | 30 January 1882 | 77 days | III (1881) | |||||
| (14) | Charles de Freycinet (1828–1923) | 2 | 30 January 1882 | 7 August 1882 | 189 days | ||||||
| 17 | Charles Duclerc (1812–1888) | • | 7 August 1882 | 29 January 1883 | 175 days | ||||||
| 18 | Armand Fallières (1841–1931) | • | 29 January 1883 | 21 February 1883 | 23 days | ||||||
| (15) | Jules Ferry (1832–1893) | 2 | 21 February 1883 | 6 April 1885 | 2 years, 44 days | ||||||
| 19 | Henri Brisson (1835–1912) | 1 | 6 April 1885 | 7 January 1886 | 276 days | Radical Republicans | |||||
| (14) | Charles de Freycinet (1828–1923) | 3 | 7 January 1886 | 16 December 1886 | 343 days | Moderate Republicans | IV (1885) | ||||
| 20 | René Goblet (1828–1905) | • | 16 December 1886 | 30 May 1887 | 165 days | Radical Republicans | |||||
| 21 | Maurice Rouvier (1842–1911) | 1 | 30 May 1887 | 12 December 1887 | 196 days | Moderate Republicans | |||||
| 22 | Pierre Tirard (1827–1893) | 1 | 12 December 1887 | 3 April 1888 | 113 days | 5 | Sadi Carnot (1887–1894) | ||||
| 23 | Charles Floquet (1828–1896) | • | 3 April 1888 | 22 February 1889 | 325 days | ||||||
| (22) | Pierre Tirard (1827–1893) | 2 | 22 February 1889 | 17 March 1890 | 1 year, 23 days | ||||||
| (14) | Charles de Freycinet (1828–1923) | 4 | 17 March 1890 | 27 February 1892 | 1 year, 347 days | V (1889) | |||||
| 24 | Émile Loubet (1838–1929) | • | 27 February 1892 | 6 December 1892 | 283 days | ||||||
| 25 | Alexandre Ribot (1842–1923) | 1 | 6 December 1892 | 4 April 1893 | 119 days | ||||||
| 2 | |||||||||||
| 26 | Charles Dupuy (1851–1923) | 1 | 4 April 1893 | 3 December 1893 | 243 days | ||||||
| 27 | Jean Casimir-Perier (1847–1907) | • | 3 December 1893 | 30 May 1894 | 178 days | VI (1893) | |||||
| (26) | Charles Dupuy (1851–1923) | 2 | 30 May 1894 | 26 January 1895 | 241 days | ||||||
| 3 | 6 | Jean Casimir-Perier (1894–1895) | |||||||||
| (25) | Alexandre Ribot (1842–1923) | 3 | 26 January 1895 | 1 November 1895 | 279 days | 7 | Félix Faure (1895–1899) | ||||
| 28 | Léon Bourgeois (1851–1925) | • | 1 November 1895 | 29 April 1896 | 180 days | Radical Republicans | |||||
| 29 | Jules Méline (1838–1925) | • | 29 April 1896 | 28 June 1898 | 2 years, 60 days | Moderate Republicans | |||||
| (17) | Henri Brisson (1835–1912) | 2 | 28 June 1898 | 1 November 1898 | 126 days | Radical Republicans | VII (1898) | ||||
| (26) | Charles Dupuy (1851–1923) | 4 | 1 November 1898 | 22 June 1899 | 233 days | Moderate Republicans | |||||
| 5 | Émile Loubet (1899–1906) | ||||||||||
| 30 | Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau (1846–1904) | • | 22 June 1899 | 7 June 1902 | 2 years, 350 days | 8 | |||||
| 31 | Émile Combes (1835–1921) | • | 7 June 1902 | 24 January 1905 | 2 years, 231 days | Radical-Socialist Party (Bloc des gauches) | VIII (1902) | ||||
| (21) | Maurice Rouvier (1842–1911) | 2 | 24 January 1905 | 12 March 1906 | 1 year, 47 days | Democratic Republican Alliance | |||||
| 3 | 9 | Armand Fallières (1906–1913) | |||||||||
| 32 | Ferdinand Sarrien (1840–1915) | • | 12 March 1906 | 25 October 1906 | 227 days | Radical-Socialist Party | |||||
| 33 | Georges Clemenceau (1841–1929) | 1 | 25 October 1906 | 24 July 1909 | 2 years, 272 days | Independent | IX (1906) | ||||
| 34 | Aristide Briand (1862–1932) | 1 | 24 July 1909 | 2 March 1911 | 1 year, 221 days | Republican-Socialist Party | |||||
| 2 | |||||||||||
| 35 | Ernest Monis (1846–1929) | • | 2 March 1911 | 27 June 1911 | 117 days | Radical-Socialist Party | X (1910) | ||||
| 36 | Joseph Caillaux (1863–1944) | • | 27 June 1911 | 21 January 1912 | 208 days | ||||||
| 37 | Raymond Poincaré (1860–1934) | 1 | 21 January 1912 | 21 January 1913 | 1 year | Republican Democratic Party | |||||
| (34) | Aristide Briand (1862–1932) | 3 | 21 January 1913 | 22 March 1913 | 60 days | Republican-Socialist Party | |||||
| 4 | 10 | Raymond Poincaré (1913–1920) | |||||||||
| 38 | Louis Barthou (1862–1934) | • | 22 March 1913 | 9 December 1913 | 262 days | Republican Democratic Party | |||||
| 39 | Gaston Doumergue (1863–1937) | 1 | 9 December 1913 | 9 June 1914 | 182 days | Radical-Socialist Party | |||||
| (25) | Alexandre Ribot (1842–1923) | 4 | 9 June 1914 | 13 June 1914 | 4 days | Republican Federation | XI (1914) | ||||
| 40 | René Viviani (1863–1925) | 1 | 13 June 1914 | 29 October 1915 | 1 year, 138 days | Republican-Socialist Party | |||||
| 2 | |||||||||||
| (34) | Aristide Briand (1862–1932) | 5 | 29 October 1915 | 20 March 1917 | 1 year, 142 days | ||||||
| 6 | |||||||||||
| (25) | Alexandre Ribot (1842–1923) | 5 | 20 March 1917 | 12 September 1917 | 176 days | Republican Federation | |||||
| 41 | Paul Painlevé (1863–1933) | 1 | 12 September 1917 | 16 November 1917 | 65 days | Republican-Socialist Party | |||||
| (33) | Georges Clemenceau (1841–1929) | 2 | 16 November 1917 | 20 January 1920 | 2 years, 65 days | Independent | |||||
| 42 | Alexandre Millerand (1859–1943) | 1 | 20 January 1920 | 24 September 1920 | 248 days | Independent (National Bloc) | XII (1919) | ||||
| 2 | 11 | Paul Deschanel (1920) | |||||||||
| 43 | Georges Leygues (1857–1933) | • | 24 September 1920 | 16 January 1921 | 114 days | Republican, Democratic and Social Party (National Bloc) | 12 | Alexandre Millerand (1920–1924) | |||
| (34) | Aristide Briand (1862–1932) | 7 | 16 January 1921 | 15 January 1922 | 364 days | Republican-Socialist Party | |||||
| (37) | Raymond Poincaré (1860–1934) | 2 | 15 January 1922 | 8 June 1924 | 2 years, 145 days | Republican, Democratic and Social Party (National Bloc) | |||||
| 3 | |||||||||||
| 44 | Frédéric François-Marsal (1874–1958) | • | 8 June 1924 | 15 June 1924 | 7 days | Republican Federation (National Bloc) | XIII (1924) | ||||
| 45 | Édouard Herriot (1872–1957) | 1 | 15 June 1924 | 17 April 1925 | 306 days | Radical-Socialist Party (Cartel des Gauches) | 13 | Gaston Doumergue (1924–1931) | |||
| (41) | Paul Painlevé (1863–1933) | 2 | 17 April 1925 | 28 November 1925 | 225 days | Republican-Socialist Party (Cartel des Gauches) | |||||
| 3 | |||||||||||
| (34) | Aristide Briand (1862–1932) | 8 | 28 November 1925 | 20 July 1926 | 234 days | ||||||
| 9 | |||||||||||
| 10 | |||||||||||
| (45) | Édouard Herriot (1872–1957) | 2 | 20 July 1926 | 23 July 1926 | 3 days | Radical-Socialist Party (Cartel des Gauches) | |||||
| (37) | Raymond Poincaré (1860–1934) | 4 | 23 July 1926 | 29 July 1929 | 3 years, 6 days | Democratic Alliance (National Union) | |||||
| 5 | |||||||||||
| (34) | Aristide Briand (1862–1932) | 11 | 29 July 1929 | 2 November 1929 | 96 days | Republican-Socialist Party | XIV (1928) | ||||
| 46 | André Tardieu (1876–1945) | 1 | 2 November 1929 | 21 February 1930 | 111 days | Democratic Alliance | |||||
| 47 | Camille Chautemps (1885–1963) | 1 | 21 February 1930 | 2 March 1930 | 9 days | Radical-Socialist Party | |||||
| (46) | André Tardieu (1876–1945) | 2 | 2 March 1930 | 13 December 1930 | 286 days | Democratic Alliance | |||||
| 48 | Théodore Steeg (1868–1950) | • | 13 December 1930 | 27 January 1931 | 45 days | Radical-Socialist Party | |||||
| 49 | Pierre Laval (1883–1945) | 1 | 27 January 1931 | 20 February 1932 | 1 year, 24 days | Independent | |||||
| 2 | 14 | Paul Doumer (1931–1932) | |||||||||
| 3 | |||||||||||
| (46) | André Tardieu (1876–1945) | 3 | 20 February 1932 | 3 June 1932 | 104 days | Democratic Alliance | |||||
| (45) | Édouard Herriot (1872–1957) | 3 | 3 June 1932 | 18 December 1932 | 198 days | Radical-Socialist Party (Cartel des Gauches) | XV (1932) | 15 | Albert Lebrun (1932–1940) | ||
| 50 | Joseph Paul-Boncour (1873–1972) | • | 18 December 1932 | 31 January 1933 | 44 days | Republican-Socialist Party (Cartel des Gauches) | |||||
| 51 | Édouard Daladier (1884–1970) | 1 | 31 January 1933 | 26 October 1933 | 268 days | Radical-Socialist Party (Cartel des Gauches) | |||||
| 52 | Albert Sarraut (1872–1962) | 1 | 26 October 1933 | 26 November 1933 | 31 days | ||||||
| (47) | Camille Chautemps (1885–1963) | 2 | 26 November 1933 | 30 January 1934 | 65 days | ||||||
| (51) | Édouard Daladier (1884–1970) | 2 | 30 January 1934 | 9 February 1934 | 10 days | ||||||
| (39) | Gaston Doumergue (1863–1937) | 2 | 9 February 1934 | 8 November 1934 | 272 days | Radical-Socialist Party | |||||
| 53 | Pierre-Étienne Flandin (1889–1958) | 1 | 8 November 1934 | 1 June 1935 | 205 days | Democratic Alliance | |||||
| 54 | Fernand Bouisson (1874–1959) | • | 1 June 1935 | 7 June 1935 | 6 days | Independent | |||||
| (49) | Pierre Laval (1883–1945) | 4 | 7 June 1935 | 24 January 1936 | 231 days | ||||||
| (52) | Albert Sarraut (1872–1962) | 2 | 24 January 1936 | 4 June 1936 | 132 days | Radical-Socialist Party | |||||
| 55 | Léon Blum (1872–1950) | 1 | 4 June 1936 | 22 June 1937 | 1 year, 18 days | French Section of the Workers' International (Popular Front) | XVI (1936) | ||||
| (47) | Camille Chautemps (1885–1963) | 3 | 22 June 1937 | 13 March 1938 | 264 days | Radical-Socialist Party (Popular Front) | |||||
| 4 | |||||||||||
| (55) | Léon Blum (1872–1950) | 2 | 13 March 1938 | 10 April 1938 | 28 days | French Section of the Workers' International (Popular Front) | |||||
| (51) | Édouard Daladier (1884–1970) | 3 | 10 April 1938 | 21 March 1940 | 1 year, 346 days | Radical-Socialist Party | |||||
| 4 | |||||||||||
| 5 | |||||||||||
| 56 | Paul Reynaud (1878–1966) | • | 21 March 1940 | 16 June 1940 | 87 days | Democratic Alliance | |||||
| 57 | Philippe Pétain (1856–1951) | • | 16 June 1940 | 11 July 1940 | 25 days | Independent | |||||
French State (1940–1944)
Following the success of the German military in the Battle of France, the government under Marshal Philippe Pétain signed the Second Armistice at Compiègne. The armistice transferred the northern territory of the nation into a zone occupied by the German army, while the southern portion of the country would remain a Zone libre. Those opposed to the armistice, led by Charles de Gaulle, continued the war effort abroad and formed a government in exile. On 10 July 1940, the French parliament voted to give full powers to Pétain who days later proclaimed the État Français (the "French State"), commonly known as "Vichy France" due to its location. Pétain served as Chief of State and nominal President of the Council of Ministers, until 1942. From 1942, Pétain remained Chief of State, but Pierre Laval was named Chief of the Government.
When the war concluded, de Gaulle explicitly refused to declare a new republic, insisting that the Third Republic had never ceased to exist. The Ordinance of 9 August 1944 declared the Vichy government unconstitutional, and as such any actions taken by them were null and void.
Vice-Presidents of the Council of Ministers
| Vice-president of the Council of Ministers (Lifespan) | Term of office | Faction | Legislature (Election) | Head of State (Term) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Duration | ||||||||||
| (49) | Pierre Laval (1883–1945) | 5 | 11 July 1940 | 13 December 1940 | 155 days | National Revolution | None | Philippe Pétain (1940–1944) | |||
| (53) | Pierre-Étienne Flandin (1889–1958) | 2 | 13 December 1940 | 9 February 1941 | 58 days | ||||||
| 58 | François Darlan (1881–1942) | • | 9 February 1941 | 18 April 1942 | 1 year, 68 days | ||||||
Chief of the Government
| Chief of the Government (Lifespan) | Term of office | Faction | Legislature (Election) | Head of State (Term) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Duration | ||||||||||
| (49) | Pierre Laval (1883–1945) | 6 | 18 April 1942 | 19 August 1944 | 2 years, 123 days | National Revolution | None | Philippe Pétain (1940–1944) | |||
Provisional Government of the French Republic (1944–1946)
A Provisional Government of the French Republic was set up by the Free France resistance leadership on June 3, 1944 in the leadup to the Allies' invasion of Normandy. The primary goals of this government were to oversee the war effort and secure French national sovereignty following the war and prevent allied military administration. Following the war, a constitutional referendum showed overwhelming support for reorganizing the government in a constituent assembly.
Chairmen of the Provisional Government
| Chairman of the Provisional Government (Lifespan) | Term of office | Political party (Political coalition) | Legislature (Election) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Duration | ||||||||
| 59 | Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) | 1 | 3 June 1944 | 26 January 1946 | 1 year, 237 days | Independent | Provisional | ||
| 2 | I (1945) | ||||||||
| 60 | Félix Gouin (1884–1977) | • | 26 January 1946 | 24 June 1946 | 149 days | French Section of the Workers' International (Tripartisme) | |||
| 61 | Georges Bidault (1899–1983) | 1 | 24 June 1946 | 16 December 1946 | 175 days | Popular Republican Movement (Tripartisme) | II (June 1946) | ||
| – | Vincent Auriol (1884–1966) (interim) | – | 28 November 1946 | 16 December 1946 | 18 days | French Section of the Workers' International (Tripartisme) | IV Rep. I (Nov 1946) | ||
| 62 | Léon Blum (1872–1950) | 3 | 16 December 1946 | 22 January 1947 | 37 days | ||||
Fourth French Republic (1946–1958)
A series of referendums in 1946 resulted in the adoption of a new constitution. The new constitution split executive power between a President of the Republic and a President of the Council of Ministers. This marked the first time the role of the President of the Council of Ministers was explicitly laid out in a constitution, previously the role existed merely as a convention.
Presidents of the Council of Ministers
| President of the Council of Ministers (Lifespan) | Term of office | Political party (Political coalition) | Legislature (Election) | President (Term) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tenure | Duration | ||||||||||
| 63 | Paul Ramadier (1888–1961) | 1 | 22 January 1947 | 24 November 1947 | 306 days | French Section of the Workers' International (Tripartisme) | I (Nov.1946) | 16 | Vincent Auriol (1947–1954) | ||
| 2 | |||||||||||
| 64 | Robert Schuman (1886–1963) | 1 | 24 November 1947 | 24 July 1948 | 243 days | Popular Republican Movement (Third Force) | |||||
| 65 | André Marie (1897–1974) | • | 24 July 1948 | 2 September 1948 | 40 days | Radical Party (Third Force) | |||||
| (64) | Robert Schuman (1886–1963) | 2 | 2 September 1948 | 11 September 1948 | 9 days | Popular Republican Movement (Third Force) | |||||
| 66 | Henri Queuille (1884–1970) | 1 | 11 September 1948 | 28 October 1949 | 1 year, 47 days | Radical Party (Third Force) | |||||
| (61) | Georges Bidault (1899–1983) | 2 | 28 October 1949 | 2 July 1950 | 247 days | Popular Republican Movement (Third Force) | |||||
| 3 | |||||||||||
| (66) | Henri Queuille (1884–1970) | 2 | 2 July 1950 | 12 July 1950 | 10 days | Radical Party (Third Force) | |||||
| 67 | René Pleven (1901–1993) | 1 | 12 July 1950 | 10 March 1951 | 241 days | Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance (Third Force) | |||||
| (66) | Henri Queuille (1884–1970) | 3 | 10 March 1951 | 11 August 1951 | 154 days | Radical Party (Third Force) | |||||
| (67) | René Pleven (1901–1993) | 2 | 11 August 1951 | 20 January 1952 | 162 days | Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance (Third Force) | II (1951) | ||||
| 68 | Edgar Faure (1908–1988) | 1 | 20 January 1952 | 8 March 1952 | 48 days | Radical Party | |||||
| 69 | Antoine Pinay (1891–1994) | • | 8 March 1952 | 8 January 1953 | 306 days | National Centre of Independents and Peasants | |||||
| 70 | René Mayer (1895–1972) | • | 8 January 1953 | 28 June 1953 | 171 days | Radical Party | |||||
| 71 | Joseph Laniel (1889–1975) | 1 | 28 June 1953 | 19 June 1954 | 356 days | National Centre of Independents and Peasants | |||||
| 2 | 17 | René Coty (1954–1959) | |||||||||
| 72 | Pierre Mendès France (1907–1982) | • | 19 June 1954 | 17 February 1955 | 243 days | Radical Party | |||||
| (68) | Edgar Faure (1908–1988) | 2 | 17 February 1955 | 1 February 1956 | 349 days | ||||||
| 73 | Guy Mollet (1905–1975) | • | 1 February 1956 | 13 June 1957 | 1 year, 132 days | French Section of the Workers' International (Republican Front) | III (1956) | ||||
| 74 | Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury (1914–1993) | • | 13 June 1957 | 6 November 1957 | 146 days | Radical Party (Republican Front) | |||||
| 75 | Felix Gaillard (1919–1970) | • | 6 November 1957 | 14 May 1958 | 189 days | ||||||
| 76 | Pierre Pflimlin (1907–2000) | • | 14 May 1958 | 1 June 1958 | 18 days | Popular Republican Movement | |||||
| (59) | Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) | 3 | 1 June 1958 | 8 January 1959 | 221 days | Union for the New Republic | |||||
20th century – 21st century
Fifth French Republic (since 1958)
The Fourth Republic collapsed as the result of the Algiers Crisis of 1958. Charles de Gaulle returned from retirement and in order to prevent a civil war was granted extraordinary powers to restructure the government. The new constitution strengthened the powers of the executive, especially those of the President which had previously been mostly a ceremonial role.
Prime Ministers
| S. No. | Portrait | Prime Minister (Lifespan) | Term of office | Political party (Political coalition) | Government | Legislature (Election) | President (Term) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term of office | Duration | ||||||||||
| 77 | Michel Debré (1912–1996) | 8 January 1959 | 14 April 1962 | 3 years, 96 days | Union for the New Republic | Debré | I (1958) | 18 | Charles de Gaulle (1959–1969) | ||
| 78 | Georges Pompidou (1911–1974) | 14 April 1962 | 7 December 1962 | 6 years, 87 days | Pompidou I | ||||||
| 7 December 1962 | 8 January 1966 | Pompidou II | II (1962) | ||||||||
| 8 January 1966 | 7 April 1967 | Pompidou III | |||||||||
| 7 April 1967 | 10 July 1968 | Pompidou IV | III (1967) | ||||||||
| 79 | Maurice Couve de Murville (1907–1999) | 10 July 1968 | 20 June 1969 | 345 days | Union of Democrats for the Republic | Couve de Murville | IV (1968) | ||||
| 80 | Jacques Chaban-Delmas (1915–2000) | 20 June 1969 | 5 July 1972 | 3 years, 15 days | Chaban-Delmas | 19 | Georges Pompidou
| ||||
| 81 | Pierre Messmer (1916–2007) | 5 July 1972 | 5 April 1973 | 1 year, 326 days | Messmer I | ||||||
| 5 April 1973 | 1 March 1974 | Messmer II | V (1973) | ||||||||
| 1 March 1974 | 27 May 1974 | Messmer III | |||||||||
| 82 | Jacques Chirac (1932–2019) | 27 May 1974 | 25 August 1976 | 2 years, 90 days | Chirac I | 20 | Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1974–1981) | ||||
| 83 | Raymond Barre (1924–2007) | 25 August 1976 | 30 March 1977 | 4 years, 269 days | Miscellaneous right (Union for French Democracy) | Barre I | |||||
| 30 March 1977 | 5 April 1978 | Barre II | |||||||||
| 5 April 1978 | 21 May 1981 | Barre III | VI (1978) | ||||||||
| 84 | Pierre Mauroy (1928–2013) | 21 May 1981 | 23 June 1981 | 3 years, 57 days | Socialist Party | Mauroy I | 21 | François Mitterrand (1981–1995) | |||
| 23 June 1981 | 22 March 1983 | Mauroy II | VII (1981) | ||||||||
| 22 March 1983 | 17 July 1984 | Mauroy III | |||||||||
| 85 | Laurent Fabius (b. 1946) | 17 July 1984 | 20 March 1986 | 1 year, 246 days | Fabius | ||||||
| (82) | Jacques Chirac (1932–2019) | 20 March 1986 | 10 May 1988 | 2 years, 51 days | Rally for the Republic | Chirac II | VIII (1986) | ||||
| 86 | Michel Rocard (1930–2016) | 10 May 1988 | 28 June 1988 | 3 years, 5 days | Socialist Party | Rocard I | |||||
| 28 June 1988 | 15 May 1991 | Rocard II | IX (1988) | ||||||||
| 87 | Édith Cresson (b. 1934) | 15 May 1991 | 2 April 1992 | 323 days | Cresson | ||||||
| 88 | Pierre Bérégovoy (1925–1993) | 2 April 1992 | 29 March 1993 | 361 days | Bérégovoy | ||||||
| 89 | Édouard Balladur (b. 1929) | 29 March 1993 | 17 May 1995 | 2 years, 49 days | Rally for the Republic | Balladur | X (1993) | ||||
| 90 | Alain Juppé (b. 1945) | 17 May 1995 | 7 November 1995 | 2 years, 16 days | Juppé I | 22 | Jacques Chirac (1995–2007) | ||||
| 7 November 1995 | 2 June 1997 | Juppé II | |||||||||
| 91 | Lionel Jospin (b. 1937) | 2 June 1997 | 6 May 2002 | 4 years, 338 days | Socialist Party | Jospin | XI (1997) | ||||
| 92 | Jean-Pierre Raffarin (b. 1948) | 6 May 2002 | 17 June 2002 | 3 years, 25 days | Liberal Democracy, later Union for a Popular Movement | Raffarin I | |||||
| 17 June 2002 | 31 March 2004 | Raffarin II | XII (2002) | ||||||||
| 31 March 2004 | 31 May 2005 | Raffarin III | |||||||||
| 93 | Dominique de Villepin (b. 1953) | 31 May 2005 | 17 May 2007 | 1 year, 351 days | Union for a Popular Movement | Villepin | |||||
| 94 | François Fillon (b. 1954) | 17 May 2007 | 19 June 2007 | 4 years, 364 days | Fillon I | 23 | Nicolas Sarkozy (2007–2012) | ||||
| 19 June 2007 | 14 November 2010 | Fillon II | XIII (2007) | ||||||||
| 14 November 2010 | 15 May 2012 | Fillon III | |||||||||
| 95 | Jean-Marc Ayrault (b. 1950) | 15 May 2012 | 21 June 2012 | 1 year, 320 days | Socialist Party | Ayrault I | 24 | François Hollande (2012–2017) | |||
| 21 June 2012 | 31 March 2014 | Ayrault II | XIV (2012) | ||||||||
| 96 | Manuel Valls (b. 1962) | 31 March 2014 | 26 August 2014 | 2 years, 250 days | Valls I | ||||||
| 26 August 2014 | 6 December 2016 | Valls II | |||||||||
| 97 | Bernard Cazeneuve (b. 1963) | 6 December 2016 | 15 May 2017 | 160 days | Cazeneuve | ||||||
| 98 | Édouard Philippe (b. 1970) | 15 May 2017 | 21 June 2017 | 3 years, 49 days | The Republicans, later Independent | Philippe I | 25 | Emmanuel Macron (2017–present) | |||
| 21 June 2017 | 3 July 2020 | Philippe II | XV (2017) | ||||||||
| 99 | Jean Castex (b. 1965) | 3 July 2020 | 16 May 2022 | 1 year, 317 days | Independent | Castex | |||||
| 100 | Élisabeth Borne (b. 1961) | 16 May 2022 | 4 July 2022 | 1 year, 238 days | Renaissance | Borne I | |||||
| 4 July 2022 | 9 January 2024 | Borne II | XVI (2022) | ||||||||
| 101 | Gabriel Attal (b. 1989) | 9 January 2024 | 5 September 2024 | 240 days | Attal | ||||||
| 102 | Michel Barnier (b. 1951) | 5 September 2024 | 13 December 2024 | 99 days | The Republicans | Barnier | XVII (2024) | ||||
| 103 | François Bayrou (b. 1951) | 13 December 2024 | 9 September 2025 | 270 days | Democratic Movement | Bayrou | |||||
| 104 | Sébastien Lecornu (b. 1986) | 9 September 2025 | 6 October 2025 | 96 days | Renaissance | Lecornu I | |||||
| 10 October 2025 | Incumbent | Lecornu II | |||||||||
Living former prime ministers
| Name | Mandate | Date of birth |
|---|---|---|
| Laurent Fabius | 1984 – 1986 | 20 August 1946 |
| Édith Cresson | 1991 – 1992 | 27 January 1934 |
| Édouard Balladur | 1993 – 1995 | 2 May 1929 |
| Alain Juppé | 1995 – 1997 | 15 August 1945 |
| Lionel Jospin | 1997 – 2002 | 12 July 1937 |
| Jean-Pierre Raffarin | 2002 – 2005 | 3 August 1948 |
| Dominique de Villepin | 2005 – 2007 | 14 November 1953 |
| François Fillon | 2007 – 2012 | 4 March 1954 |
| Jean-Marc Ayrault | 2012 – 2014 | 25 January 1950 |
| Manuel Valls | 2014 – 2016 | 13 August 1962 |
| Bernard Cazeneuve | 2016 – 2017 | 2 June 1963 |
| Édouard Philippe | 2017 – 2020 | 28 November 1970 |
| Jean Castex | 2020 – 2022 | 25 June 1965 |
| Élisabeth Borne | 2022 – 2024 | 18 April 1961 |
| Gabriel Attal | 2024 | 16 March 1989 |
| Michel Barnier | 2024 | 9 January 1951 |
| François Bayrou | 2024 – 2025 | 25 May 1951 |
| Sébastien Lecornu | 2025 | 11 June 1986 |
The most recent death of a former prime minister was that of Jacques Chirac (1974 – 1976/1986 – 1988), who died on 26 September 2019 at the age of 86.
Timeline
Executive Prime Ministers (1814–1959)
Semi-executive Prime Ministers (since 1959)
See also
- History of France
- Politics of France
- President of France
- Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs – Foreign affairs government office of France
wikipedia, wiki, encyclopedia, book, library, article, read, free download, Information about List of prime ministers of France, What is List of prime ministers of France? What does List of prime ministers of France mean?