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List of prime ministers of France

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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 history, the head of government of France 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 appoints the prime minister as head of state.

Kingdom of France (843–1792)

Under the Kingdom of France, there was no official title for the leader of the government. The chief ministers (principal ministres) of certain kings of France nonetheless led the government de facto.

Chief minister Took office Left office King
Anne de Montmorency 1 January 1515 14 June 1541 Francis I

(r. 1515–1547)
Claude d'Annebault 1541 31 March 1547
Anne de Montmorency 1 April 1547 10 August 1557 Henry II

(r. 1547–1559)
Position vacant
(absolute rule by Henry II)
11 August 1557 10 July 1559
Francis, Duke of Guise 10 July 1559 5 December 1560 Francis II

(r. 1559–1560)
Michel de l'Hôpital 5 December 1560 13 March 1573
(Died in office)
Charles IX

(term: 1560–1574)
René de Birague 30 May 1574 24 November 1583
(Died in office)
Henry III

(r. 1574–1589)
Philippe Hurault de Cheverny 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 2 August 1589 29 January 1611 Henry IV

(r. 1589–1610)
Nicolas de Neufville, seigneur de Villeroy 30 January 1611 9 August 1616 Louis XIII

(r. 1610–1643)
Concino Concini 9 August 1616 24 April 1617
(Died in office)
Charles d'Albert, duc de Luynes 24 April 1617 15 December 1621
(Died in office)
Position vacant
(absolute rule by Louis XIII)
15 December 1621 12 August 1624
Cardinal Richelieu 12 August 1624 4 December 1642
(Died in office)
Cardinal Mazarin 5 December 1642 9 March 1661
(Died in office)
Louis XIV

(r. 1643–1715)
Position vacant
(absolute rule by Louis XIV)
9 March 1661 1 September 1715
Guillaume Dubois 12 September 1715 10 August 1723
(Died in office)
Louis XV

(r. 1715–1774)
Philippe II, Duke of Orléans 10 August 1723 2 December 1723
(Died in office)
Louis Henri, Duke of Bourbon 2 December 1723 11 June 1726
André-Hercule de Fleury 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 3 December 1758 24 December 1770
René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou 25 December 1770 23 August 1774
Jacques Turgot 24 August 1774 12 May 1776 Louis XVI

(r. 1774–1792)
Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas 14 May 1776 21 November 1781
(Died in office)
Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes 21 November 1781 13 February 1787
(Died in office)
Étienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne 1 May 1787 25 August 1788
Jacques Necker 25 August 1788 11 July 1789
Louis Auguste Le Tonnelier de Breteuil 11 July 1789 16 July 1789
Jacques Necker 16 July 1789 3 September 1790
Armand Marc, comte de Montmorin 3 September 1790 3 September 1791
Constitutional cabinet
(supervisioned by Legislative Assembly)
3 September 1791 21 September 1792

French First Republic (1792–1804)

During the First Republic, the arrangements for governance changed frequently:

There was no individual head of government.

French First Empire (1804–1815)

As Emperor, Napoleon was both head of state and head of government.

Chief minister Term Political party Ministry Emperor
Position vacant
(absolute rule by Napoleon)
18 May 1804 1 April 1814 Vacant First Cabinet of Napoleon I Napoleon

(r. 1804–1814)

First Restoration (1814–1815)

Chief minister Term Political party Ministry King
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord
(as President of the Council)
1 April 1814 –
2 May 1814
(31 days)
Independent Provisional Government of 1814 Louis XVIII

(term: 1814–1815)
Pierre Louis Jean Casimir de Blacas 2 May 1814 –
8 July 1815
(1 year, 67 days)
Independent Government of the first Bourbon restoration

Hundred Days (1815)

As Emperor, Napoleon was 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 remained in Austria throughout his nominal reign.

Chief Minister Term Political party Government Emperor
Position vacant
(absolute rule by Napoleon I)
20 March 1815 –
22 June 1815
(94 days)
Vacant Government of the Hundred Days Napoleon I

(1815)
Joseph Fouché
(as President of the Executive Commission)
22 June 1815 –
7 July 1815
(15 days)
Bonapartist Provisional Government of 1815 Napoleon II

(1815)

Bourbon Restoration (1815–1830)

Presidents of the Council of Ministers

President of the Council of Ministers Term Political party Legislature
(Election)
Ministry King
Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord 9 July 1815 –
26 September 1815
(79 days)
Independent I
(Chambre introuvable)
(1815)
Talleyrand Ministry Louis XVIII

(term: 1815–1824)
Armand-Emmanuel de Vignerot du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu 26 September 1815 –
29 December 1818
(3 years, 94 days)
Independent 1st Richelieu ministry
Jean-Joseph, Marquis Dessolles 29 December 1818 –
19 November 1819
(325 days)
Doctrinaires II
(1816)
Dessolles Ministry
Élie Decazes, duc de Glücksbierg and Decazes 19 November 1819 –
20 February 1820
(93 days)
Doctrinaires Decazes Ministry
Armand-Emmanuel de Vignerot du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu 20 February 1820 –
14 December 1821
(1 year, 297 days)
Doctrinaires III
(1820)
2nd Richelieu ministry
Jean-Baptiste de Villèle 14 December 1821 –
4 January 1828
(6 years, 21 days)
Ultra-royalist Villèle Ministry
IV
(1824)
Charles X

(term: 1824–1830)
Jean Baptiste Gay, vicomte de Martignac 4 January 1828 –
8 August 1829
(1 year, 216 days)
Doctrinaires V
(1827)
Martignac Ministry
Jules de Polignac, duc de Polignac 8 August 1829 –
29 July 1830
(355 days)
Ultra-royalist Polignac Ministry
Casimir de Rochechouart, duc de Mortemart 29 July 1830
(0 days)
Ultra-royalist Mortemart Ministry

July Monarchy (1830–1848)

Presidents of the Council of Ministers

President of the Council of Ministers Term of office Political party Legislature
(Election)
Cabinet King
Position vacant
(government led by
Louis Philippe I)
1 August 1830 –
2 November 1830
(93 days)
(Orléanist) I
(1830)
Provisional Ministry of 1830 Louis Philippe I

(term: 1830–1848)
1st Louis-Philippe ministry
Jacques Laffitte 2 November 1830 –
13 March 1831
(131 days)
Orléanist Laffitte cabinet
Casimir Pierre Périer 13 March 1831 –
16 May 1832
(1 year, 64 days)
Resistance Party II
(1831)
Périer cabinet
Jean-de-Dieu Soult 11 October 1832 –
18 July 1834
(1 year, 280 days)
Orléanist 1st Soult cabinet
Étienne Maurice Gérard 18 July 1834 –
10 November 1834
(115 days)
Independent III
(1834)
Gérard cabinet
Hugues-Bernard Maret 10 November 1834 –
18 November 1834
(8 days)
Independent Maret cabinet
Édouard Mortier 18 November 1834 –
12 March 1835
(114 days)
Resistance Party Mortier cabinet
Victor de Broglie 12 March 1835 –
22 February 1836
(347 days)
Resistance Party Broglie cabinet
Adolphe Thiers 22 February 1836 –
6 September 1836
(197 days)
Movement Party 1st Thiers cabinet
Louis-Mathieu Molé 6 September 1836 –
31 March 1839
(2 years, 206 days)
Resistance Party 1st Molé cabinet
IV
(1837)
2nd Molé cabinet
Position vacant
(government led by
Louis Philippe I)
31 March 1839 –
12 May 1839
(42 days)
(Orléanist) Transitional cabinet of 1839
Jean-de-Dieu Soult 12 May 1839 –
1 March 1840
(294 days)
Resistance Party V
(1839)
2nd Soult cabinet
Adolphe Thiers 1 March 1840 –
29 October 1840
(242 days)
Movement Party 2nd Thiers cabinet
Jean-de-Dieu Soult 29 October 1840 –
19 September 1847
(6 years, 325 days)
Resistance Party VI
(1842)
3rd Soult cabinet
François Guizot 19 September 1847 –
23 February 1848
(157 days)
Resistance Party VII
(1846)
Guizot cabinet
Louis-Mathieu Molé 23 February 1848 –
24 February 1848
(1 day)
Resistance Party

Second French Republic (1848–1852)

Presidents of the Council of Ministers

President of the Council of Ministers Term Political party Legislature
(Election)
Ministry President
Jacques-Charles Dupont de l'Eure 24 February 1848 –
9 May 1848
(75 days)
Moderate Republican Const.
(1848)
Provisional Government of 1848 Himself
de facto
(Provisional)
François Arago 10 May 1848 –
24 June 1848
(45 days)
Moderate Republican Executive Commission of 1848
Louis-Eugène Cavaignac 28 June 1848 –
20 December 1848
(175 days)
Moderate Republican Cavaignac cabinet Himself
de facto
(Martial Law)
Odilon Barrot 20 December 1848 –
31 October 1849
(315 days)
Party of Order 1st Barrot cabinet Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte

(term: 1848–1852)
Leg.
(1849)
2nd Barrot cabinet
Alphonse Henri, comte d'Hautpoul 31 October 1849 –
24 January 1851
(1 year, 85 days)
Party of Order Hautpoul cabinet
Position vacant
(government led by
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte)
24 January 1851 –
10 April 1851
(76 days)
Vacant Petit ministère of 1851
Léon Faucher 10 April 1851 –
26 October 1851
(199 days)
Party of Order Faucher cabinet
Position vacant
(government led by
Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte)
26 October 1851 –
2 December 1852
(1 year, 37 days)
Vacant Last cabinet of the Second Republic
1st cabinet of Louis Napoleon
2nd cabinet of Louis Napoleon

Second French Empire (1852–1870)

Cabinet Chiefs

Cabinet Chief Term Political party Legislature
(Election)
Cabinet Emperor
Position vacant
(absolute rule by Napoleon III)
2 December 1852 –
27 December 1869
(17 years, 25 days)
Vacant I
(1852)
3rd Napoleon III cabinet Napoleon III

(term: 1852–1870)
II
(1857)
III
(1863)
Prosper de Chasseloup-Laubat 27 December 1869–
2 January 1870
(6 days)
Party of Order IV
(1869)
4th Napoleon III cabinet
Émile Ollivier 2 January 1870–
9 August 1870
(219 days)
Bonapartist Ollivier cabinet
Charles Cousin-Montauban 9 August 1870 –
4 September 1870
(26 days)
Independent Cousin-Montauban cabinet

French Third Republic (1870–1940)

President of the Government of National Defense

President of the Government of National Defense Term Political party Legislature
(Election)
Government
Louis-Jules Trochu 4 September 1870 –
22 January 1871
(140 days)
Military government None Government of National Defense

Presidents of the Council of Ministers

President of the Council of Ministers Term Political party
(Political coalition)
Legislature
(Election)
Cabinet President
Jules Armand Dufaure 19 February 1871 –
24 May 1873
(2 years, 94 days)
Opportunist Republicans National Assembly (1871) 1st Dufaure cabinet Adolphe Thiers

(term: 1871–1873)
2nd cabinet
Albert, duc de Broglie 25 May 1873 –
22 May 1874
(362 days)
Monarchist 1st Broglie cabinet Patrice de MacMahon

(term: 1873–1879)
2nd Broglie cabinet
Ernest Courtot de Cissey 22 May 1874 –
10 March 1875
(292 days)
Monarchist Cissey cabinet
Louis Buffet 10 March 1875 –
23 February 1876
(350 days)
Monarchist Buffet cabinet
Jules Armand Dufaure 23 February 1876 –
12 December 1876
(293 days)
Opportunist Republicans 3rd Dufaure cabinet
4th Dufaure cabinet
Jules Simon 12 December 1876 –
17 May 1877
(156 days)
Opportunist Republicans I (1876) Simon cabinet
Albert, duc de Broglie 17 May 1877 –
23 November 1877
(190 days)
Monarchist 3rd Broglie cabinet
Gaëtan de Rochebouët 23 November 1877 –
13 December 1877
(20 days)
Monarchist II (1877) Rochebouët cabinet
Jules Armand Dufaure 13 December 1877 –
4 February 1879
(1 year, 53 days)
Opportunist Republicans 5th Dufaure cabinet
William Waddington 4 February 1879 –
28 December 1879
(327 days)
Opportunist Republicans Waddington cabinet Jules Grévy

(term: 1879–1887)
Charles de Freycinet 28 December 1879 –
23 September 1880
(270 days)
Opportunist Republicans 1st Freycinet cabinet
Jules Ferry 23 September 1880 –
14 November 1881
(1 year, 52 days)
Opportunist Republicans 1st Ferry cabinet
Léon Gambetta 14 November 1881 –
30 January 1882
(77 days)
Opportunist Republicans III (1881) Gambetta cabinet
Charles de Freycinet 30 January 1882 –
7 August 1882
(189 days)
Opportunist Republicans 2nd Freycinet cabinet
Charles Duclerc 7 August 1882 –
29 January 1883
(175 days)
Opportunist Republicans Duclerc cabinet
Armand Fallières 29 January 1883 –
21 February 1883
(23 days)
Opportunist Republicans Fallières cabinet
Jules Ferry 21 February 1883 –
6 April 1885
(2 years, 44 days)
Opportunist Republicans 2nd Ferry cabinet
Henri Brisson 6 April 1885 –
7 January 1886
(276 days)
Radical Republicans 1st Brisson cabinet
Charles de Freycinet 7 January 1886 –
16 December 1886
(343 days)
Opportunist Republicans IV (1885) 3rd Freycinet cabinet
René Goblet 16 December 1886 –
30 May 1887
(165 days)
Radical Republicans Goblet cabinet
Maurice Rouvier 30 May 1887 –
12 December 1887
(196 days)
Opportunist Republicans 1st Rouvier cabinet
Pierre Tirard 12 December 1887 –
3 April 1888
(113 days)
Opportunist Republicans 1st Tirard cabinet Sadi Carnot

(term: 1887–1894)
Charles Floquet 3 April 1888 –
22 February 1889
(325 days)
Opportunist Republicans Floquet cabinet
Pierre Tirard 22 February 1889 –
17 March 1890
(1 year, 23 days)
Opportunist Republicans 2nd Tirard cabinet
Charles de Freycinet 17 March 1890 –
27 February 1892
(1 year, 347 days)
Opportunist Republicans V (1889) 4th Freycinet cabinet
Émile Loubet 27 February 1892 –
6 December 1892
(283 days)
Opportunist Republicans Loubet cabinet
Alexandre Ribot 6 December 1892 –
4 April 1893
(119 days)
Opportunist Republicans 1st Ribot cabinet
2nd Ribot cabinet
Charles Dupuy 4 April 1893 –
3 December 1893
(243 days)
Opportunist Republicans 1st Dupuy cabinet
Jean Casimir-Perier 3 December 1893 –
30 May 1894
(178 days)
Opportunist Republicans VI (1893) Casimir-Perier cabinet
Charles Dupuy 30 May 1894 –
26 January 1895
(241 days)
Opportunist Republicans 2nd Dupuy cabinet
3rd Dupuy cabinet Jean Casimir-Perier

(term: 1894–1895)
Alexandre Ribot 26 January 1895 –
1 November 1895
(279 days)
Opportunist Republicans 3rd Ribot cabinet Félix Faure

(term: 1895–1899)
Léon Bourgeois 1 November 1895 –
29 April 1896
(180 days)
Radical Republicans Bourgeois cabinet
Jules Méline 29 April 1896 –
28 June 1898
(2 years, 60 days)
Opportunist Republicans Méline cabinet
Henri Brisson 28 June 1898 –
1 November 1898
(126 days)
Radical Republicans VII (1898) 2nd Brisson cabinet
Charles Dupuy 1 November 1898 –
22 June 1899
(233 days)
Opportunist Republicans 4th Dupuy cabinet
5th Dupuy cabinet Émile Loubet

(term: 1899–1906)
Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau 22 June 1899 –
7 June 1902
(2 years, 350 days)
Opportunist Republicans Waldeck-Rousseau cabinet
Émile Combes 7 June 1902 –
24 January 1905
(2 years, 231 days)
Radical-Socialist Party
(Bloc des gauches)
VIII (1902) Combes cabinet
Maurice Rouvier 24 January 1905 –
12 March 1906
(1 year, 47 days)
Democratic Republican Alliance 2nd Rouvier cabinet
3rd Rouvier cabinet Armand Fallières

(term: 1906–1913)
Ferdinand Sarrien 12 March 1906 –
25 October 1906
(227 days)
Radical-Socialist Party Sarrien cabinet
Georges Clemenceau 25 October 1906 –
24 July 1909
(2 years, 272 days)
Independent IX (1906) 1st Clemenceau cabinet
Aristide Briand 24 July 1909 –
2 March 1911
(1 year, 221 days)
Republican-Socialist Party 1st Briand cabinet
2nd Briand cabinet
Ernest Monis 2 March 1911 –
27 June 1911
(117 days)
Radical-Socialist Party X (1910) Monis cabinet
Joseph Caillaux 27 June 1911 –
21 January 1912
(208 days)
Radical-Socialist Party Caillaux cabinet
Raymond Poincaré 21 January 1912 –
21 January 1913
(1 year, 0 days)
Republican Democratic Party 1st Poincaré cabinet
Aristide Briand 21 January 1913 –
22 March 1913
(60 days)
Republican-Socialist Party 3rd Briand cabinet
4th Poincaré cabinet Raymond Poincaré

(term: 1913–1920)
Louis Barthou 22 March 1913 –
9 December 1913
(262 days)
Republican Democratic Party Barthou cabinet
Gaston Doumergue 9 December 1913 –
9 June 1914
(182 days)
Radical-Socialist Party 1st Doumergue cabinet
Alexandre Ribot 9 June 1914 –
13 June 1914
(4 days)
Republican Federation XI (1914) 4th Ribot cabinet
René Viviani 13 June 1914 –
29 October 1915
(1 year, 138 days)
Republican-Socialist Party 1st Viviani cabinet
2nd Viviani cabinet
Aristide Briand 29 October 1915 –
20 March 1917
(1 year, 142 days)
Republican-Socialist Party 5th Briand cabinet
6th Briand cabinet
Alexandre Ribot 20 March 1917 –
12 September 1917
(176 days)
Republican Federation 5th Ribot cabinet
Paul Painlevé 12 September 1917 –
16 November 1917
(65 days)
Republican-Socialist Party 1st Painlevé cabinet
Georges Clemenceau 16 November 1917 –
20 January 1920
(2 years, 65 days)
Independent 2nd Clemenceau cabinet
Alexandre Millerand 20 January 1920 –
24 September 1920
(248 days)
Independent
(National Bloc)
XII (1919) 1st Millerand cabinet
2nd Millerand cabinet Paul Deschanel

(1920)
Georges Leygues 24 September 1920 –
16 January 1921
(114 days)
Republican, Democratic and Social Party
(National Bloc)
Leygues cabinet Alexandre Millerand

(term: 1920–1924)
Aristide Briand 16 January 1921 –
15 January 1922
(364 days)
Republican-Socialist Party 7th Briand cabinet
Raymond Poincaré 15 January 1922 –
8 June 1924
(2 years, 145 days)
Republican, Democratic and Social Party
(National Bloc)
2nd Poincaré cabinet
3rd Poincaré cabinet
Frédéric François-Marsal 8 June 1924 –
15 June 1924
(7 days)
Republican Federation
(National Bloc)
XIII (1924) François-Marsal cabinet
Édouard Herriot 15 June 1924 –
17 April 1925
(306 days)
Radical-Socialist Party
(Cartel des Gauches)
1st Herriot cabinet Gaston Doumergue

(term: 1924–1931)
Paul Painlevé 17 April 1925 –
28 November 1925
(225 days)
Republican-Socialist Party
(Cartel des Gauches)
2nd Painlevé cabinet
3rd Painlevé cabinet
Aristide Briand 28 November 1925 –
20 July 1926
(234 days)
Republican-Socialist Party
(Cartel des Gauches)
8th Briand cabinet
9th Briand cabinet
10th Briand cabinet
Édouard Herriot 20 July 1926 –
23 July 1926
(3 days)
Radical-Socialist Party
(Cartel des Gauches)
2nd Herriot cabinet
Raymond Poincaré 23 July 1926 –
29 July 1929
(3 years, 6 days)
Democratic Alliance
(National Union)
4th Poincaré cabinet
5th Poincaré cabinet
Aristide Briand 29 July 1929 –
2 November 1929
(96 days)
Republican-Socialist Party XIV (1928) 11th Briand cabinet
André Tardieu 2 November 1929 –
21 February 1930
(111 days)
Democratic Alliance 1st Tardieu cabinet
Camille Chautemps 21 February 1930 –
2 March 1930
(9 days)
Radical-Socialist Party 1st Chautemps cabinet
André Tardieu 2 March 1930 –
13 December 1930
(286 days)
Democratic Alliance 2nd Tardieu cabinet
Théodore Steeg 13 December 1930 –
27 January 1931
(45 days)
Radical-Socialist Party Steeg cabinet
Pierre Laval 27 January 1931 –
20 February 1932
(1 year, 24 days)
Independent 1st Laval cabinet
2nd Laval cabinet Paul Doumer

(term: 1931–1932)
3rd cabinet
André Tardieu 20 February 1932 –
3 June 1932
(104 days)
Democratic Alliance 3rd Tardieu cabinet
Édouard Herriot 3 June 1932 –
18 December 1932
(198 days)
Radical-Socialist Party
(Cartel des Gauches)
XV (1932) 3rd Herriot cabinet Albert Lebrun

(term: 1932–1940)
Joseph Paul-Boncour 18 December 1932 –
31 January 1933
(44 days)
Republican-Socialist Party
(Cartel des Gauches)
Paul-Boncour cabinet
Édouard Daladier 31 January 1933 –
26 October 1933
(268 days)
Radical-Socialist Party
(Cartel des Gauches)
1st Daladier cabinet
Albert Sarraut 26 October 1933 –
26 November 1933
(31 days)
Radical-Socialist Party
(Cartel des Gauches)
1st Sarraut cabinet
Camille Chautemps 26 November 1933 –
30 January 1934
(65 days)
Radical-Socialist Party
(Cartel des Gauches)
2nd Chautemps cabinet
Édouard Daladier 30 January 1934 –
9 February 1934
(10 days)
Radical-Socialist Party
(Cartel des Gauches)
2nd Daladier cabinet
Gaston Doumergue 9 February 1934 –
8 November 1934
(272 days)
Radical-Socialist Party 2nd Doumergue cabinet
Pierre-Étienne Flandin 8 November 1934 –
1 June 1935
(205 days)
Democratic Alliance 1st Flandin cabinet
Fernand Bouisson 1 June 1935 –
7 June 1935
(6 days)
Independent Bouisson cabinet
Pierre Laval 7 June 1935 –
24 January 1936
(231 days)
Independent 4th Laval cabinet
Albert Sarraut 24 January 1936 –
4 June 1936
(132 days)
Radical-Socialist Party 2nd Sarraut cabinet
Léon Blum 4 June 1936 –
22 June 1937
(1 year, 18 days)
French Section of the Workers' International
(Popular Front)
XVI (1936) 1st Blum cabinet
Camille Chautemps 22 June 1937 –
13 March 1938
(264 days)
Radical-Socialist Party
(Popular Front)
3rd Chautemps cabinet
4th Chautemps cabinet
Léon Blum 13 March 1938 –
10 April 1938
(28 days)
French Section of the Workers' International
(Popular Front)
2nd Blum cabinet
Édouard Daladier 10 April 1938 –
21 March 1940
(1 year, 346 days)
Radical-Socialist Party 3rd Daladier cabinet
4th Daladier cabinet
5th Daladier cabinet
Paul Reynaud 21 March 1940 –
16 June 1940
(87 days)
Democratic Alliance Reynaud cabinet
Philippe Pétain 16 June 1940 –
11 July 1940
(25 days)
Independent Pétain cabinet

French State (1940–1944)

Until 1942, Marshal Philippe Pétain served as Chief of State and nominal President of the Council of Ministers: the vice-president of the Council of Ministers was the de facto head of government. From 1942, Pétain remained Chief of State, but Pierre Laval was named Chief of the Government.

Vice-Presidents of the Council of Ministers

Vice-president of the Council of Ministers Term Political party Legislature
(Election)
Cabinet Chief of State
Pierre Laval 11 July 1940 13 December 1940 Révolution nationale None 5th Laval cabinet Philippe Pétain

(term: 1940–1944)
Pierre-Étienne Flandin 13 December 1940 9 February 1941 2nd Flandin cabinet
François Darlan 9 February 1941 18 April 1942 Darlan cabinet
Pierre Laval
(as Chief of the Government)
18 April 1942 19 August 1944 6th Laval cabinet

Provisional Government of the French Republic (1944–1946)

Chairmen of the Provisional Government

Chairman of the Provisional Government Term Political party
(Political coalition)
Legislature
(Election)
Cabinet
Charles de Gaulle 3 June 1944 26 January 1946 Independent Provisional 1st de Gaulle cabinet
I
(1945)
2nd de Gaulle cabinet
Félix Gouin 26 January 1946 24 June 1946 French Section of the Workers' International
(Tripartisme)
Gouin cabinet
Georges Bidault 24 June 1946 16 December 1946 Popular Republican Movement
(Tripartisme)
II
(June 1946)
1st Bidault cabinet
Vincent Auriol
(interim)
28 November 1946 16 December 1946 French Section of the Workers' International
(Tripartisme)
IV Rep.
I
(Nov 1946)
Léon Blum 16 December 1946 22 January 1947 French Section of the Workers' International
(Tripartisme)
3rd Blum cabinet

Fourth French Republic (1946–1958)

Presidents of the Council of Ministers

President of the Council of Ministers Term Political party
(Political coalition)
Legislature
(Election)
Government President
Paul Ramadier 22 January 1947 24 November 1947 French Section of the Workers' International
(Tripartisme)
I (Nov.1946) 1st Ramadier cabinet Vincent Auriol

(term: 1947–1954)
2nd Ramadier cabinet
Robert Schuman 24 November 1947 24 July 1948 Popular Republican Movement
(Third Force)
1st Schuman cabinet
André Marie 24 July 1948 2 September 1948 Radical Party
(Third Force)
Marie cabinet
Robert Schuman 2 September 1948 11 September 1948 Popular Republican Movement
(Third Force)
2nd Schuman cabinet
Henri Queuille 11 September 1948 28 October 1949 Radical Party
(Third Force)
1st Queuille cabinet
Georges Bidault 28 October 1949 2 July 1950 Popular Republican Movement
(Third Force)
2nd Bidault cabinet
3rd Bidault cabinet
Henri Queuille 2 July 1950 12 July 1950 Radical Party
(Third Force)
2nd Queuille cabinet
René Pleven 12 July 1950 10 March 1951 Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance
(Third Force)
1st Pleven cabinet
Henri Queuille 10 March 1951 11 August 1951 Radical Party
(Third Force)
3rd Queuille cabinet
René Pleven 11 August 1951 20 January 1952 Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance
(Third Force)
II (1951) 2nd Pleven cabinet
Edgar Faure 20 January 1952 8 March 1952 Radical Party 1st Faure cabinet
Antoine Pinay 8 March 1952 8 January 1953 National Centre of Independents and Peasants Pinay cabinet
René Mayer 8 January 1953 28 June 1953 Radical Party Mayer cabinet
Joseph Laniel 28 June 1953 19 June 1954 National Centre of Independents and Peasants 1st Laniel cabinet
2nd Laniel cabinet René Coty

(term: 1954–1959)
Pierre Mendès France 19 June 1954 17 February 1955 Radical Party Mendès France cabinet
Edgar Faure 17 February 1955 1 February 1956 Radical Party 2nd Faure cabinet
Guy Mollet 1 February 1956 13 June 1957 French Section of the Workers' International
(Republican Front)
III (1956) Mollet cabinet
Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury 13 June 1957 6 November 1957 Radical Party
(Republican Front)
Bourgès-Maunoury cabinet
Félix Gaillard 6 November 1957 14 May 1958 Radical Party
(Republican Front)
Gaillard cabinet
Pierre Pflimlin 14 May 1958 1 June 1958 Popular Republican Movement Pflimlin cabinet
Charles de Gaulle 1 June 1958 8 January 1959 Union for the New Republic 3rd de Gaulle cabinet

Fifth French Republic (since 1958)

Prime Ministers

Portrait Prime Minister Term Political party
(Political coalition)
Legislature
(Election)
Government President
Took office Left office Time in office
Michel Debré 8 January 1959 14 April 1962 3 years, 96 days Union for the New Republic I
(1958)
Debré government [fr] Charles de Gaulle

(term: 1959–1969)
Georges Pompidou 14 April 1962 7 December 1962 6 years, 87 days Union for the New Republic 1st First Pompidou government [fr]
7 December 1962 8 January 1966 II
(1962)
2nd Pompidou government [fr]
8 January 1966 7 April 1967 3rd Pompidou government [fr]
7 April 1967 10 July 1968 III
(1967)
4th Pompidou government [fr]
Maurice Couve de Murville 10 July 1968 20 June 1969 345 days Union of Democrats for the Republic IV
(1968)
Couve de Murville [fr]
Jacques Chaban-Delmas 20 June 1969 5 July 1972 3 years, 15 days Union of Democrats for the Republic Chaban-Delmas [fr] Georges Pompidou


(term: 1969–1974)

Pierre Messmer 5 July 1972 5 April 1973 1 year, 326 days Union of Democrats for the Republic 1st Messmer government [fr]
5 April 1973 1 March 1974 V
(1973)
2nd Messmer government [fr]
1 March 1974 27 May 1974 3rd Messmer government [fr]
Jacques Chirac 27 May 1974 25 August 1976 2 years, 90 days Union of Democrats for the Republic 1st Chirac government [fr] Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

(term: 1974–1981)
Raymond Barre 25 August 1976 30 March 1977 4 years, 269 days Miscellaneous right
(Union for French Democracy)
1st Barre government [fr]
30 March 1977 5 April 1978 2nd Barre government [fr]
5 April 1978 21 May 1981 VI
(1978)
3rd Barre government [fr]
Pierre Mauroy 21 May 1981 23 June 1981 3 years, 57 days Socialist Party 1st Mauroy government [fr] François Mitterrand

(term: 1981–1995)
23 June 1981 22 March 1983 VII
(1981)
2nd Mauroy government [fr]
22 March 1983 17 July 1984 3rd Mauroy government [fr]
Laurent Fabius 17 July 1984 20 March 1986 1 year, 246 days Socialist Party Fabius government [fr]
Jacques Chirac 20 March 1986 10 May 1988 2 years, 51 days Rally for the Republic VIII
(1986)
2nd Chirac government [fr]
Michel Rocard 10 May 1988 28 June 1988 3 years, 5 days Socialist Party 1st Rocard government
28 June 1988 15 May 1991 IX
(1988)
2nd Rocard government
Édith Cresson 15 May 1991 2 April 1992 323 days Socialist Party Cresson government [fr]
Pierre Bérégovoy 2 April 1992 29 March 1993 361 days Socialist Party Bérégovoy government [fr]
Édouard Balladur 29 March 1993 17 May 1995 2 years, 49 days Rally for the Republic X
(1993)
Balladur government [fr]
Alain Juppé 17 May 1995 7 November 1995 2 years, 16 days Rally for the Republic 1st Juppé government [fr] Jacques Chirac

(term: 1995–2007)
7 November 1995 2 June 1997 2nd Juppé government [fr]
Lionel Jospin 2 June 1997 6 May 2002 4 years, 338 days Socialist Party XI
(1997)
Jospin government
Jean-Pierre Raffarin 6 May 2002 17 June 2002 3 years, 25 days Liberal Democracy,
later Union for a Popular Movement
1st Raffarin government [fr]
17 June 2002 31 March 2004 XII
(2002)
2nd Raffarin government [fr]
31 March 2004 31 May 2005 3rd Raffarin government [fr]
Dominique de Villepin 31 May 2005 17 May 2007 1 year, 351 days Union for a Popular Movement Villepin government [fr]
François Fillon 17 May 2007 19 June 2007 4 years, 364 days Union for a Popular Movement 1st Fillon government [fr] Nicolas Sarkozy

(term: 2007–2012)
19 June 2007 14 November 2010 XIII
(2007)
2nd Fillon government [fr]
14 November 2010 15 May 2012 3rd Fillon government
Jean-Marc Ayrault 15 May 2012 21 June 2012 1 year, 320 days Socialist Party 1st Ayrault government François Hollande

(term: 2012–2017)
21 June 2012 31 March 2014 XIV
(2012)
2nd Ayrault government
Manuel Valls 31 March 2014 26 August 2014 2 years, 250 days Socialist Party 1st Valls government
26 August 2014 6 December 2016 2nd Valls government
Bernard Cazeneuve 6 December 2016 15 May 2017 160 days Socialist Party Cazeneuve government
Édouard Philippe 15 May 2017 21 June 2017 3 years, 49 days The Republicans,
later Independent
1st Philippe government Emmanuel Macron

(2017–present)
21 June 2017 3 July 2020 XV
(2017)
2nd Philippe government
Jean Castex 3 July 2020 16 May 2022 1 year, 317 days Independent Castex government
Élisabeth Borne 16 May 2022 4 July 2022 1 year, 238 days La République En Marche!,
later Renaissance[a]
1st Borne government
4 July 2022 9 January 2024 XVI
(2022)
2nd Borne government
File:Valditara Attal 2023 (cropped).jpg Gabriel Attal 9 January 2024 Incumbent 351 days Renaissance Attal government

See also

Notes

  1. ^ renamed from La République En Marche! in September 2022