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" (), generally shortened to "President of the Council" (). 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.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=2 | Chief minister<br/>
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! King<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Anne de Montmorency<br/>
| 1 January 1515
| 14 June 1541
| rowspan=2 | Francis I<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Claude d'Annebault<br/>
| 1541
| 31 March 1547
|-
| 70px
| Anne de Montmorency<br/>
| 1 April 1547
| 10 August 1557
| rowspan=2 | Henry II<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| colspan=2 | Position vacant<br/>(absolute rule by Henry II)
| 11 August 1557
| 10 July 1559
|-
| 70px
| Francis, Duke of Guise<br/>
| 10 July 1559
| 5 December 1560
| Francis II<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Michel de l'Hôpital<br/>
| 5 December 1560
| 13 March 1573<br/>
| Charles IX<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| René de Birague<br/>
| 30 May 1574
| 24 November 1583<br/>
| rowspan=3 | Henry III<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Philippe Hurault de Cheverny<br/>
| 24 November 1583
| 12 May 1588
|-
| colspan=2 | Position vacant<br/>(absolute rule by Henry III)
| 12 May 1588
| 2 August 1589
|-
| 70px
| Maximilien de Béthune, Duke of Sully<br/>
| 2 August 1589
| 29 January 1611
| Henry IV<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Nicolas de Neufville, seigneur de Villeroy<br/>
| 30 January 1611
| 9 August 1616
| rowspan=5 | Louis XIII<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Concino Concini<br/>
| 9 August 1616
| 24 April 1617<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Charles d'Albert, duc de Luynes<br/>
| 24 April 1617
| 15 December 1621<br/>
|-
| colspan=2 | Position vacant<br/>(absolute rule by Louis XIII)
| 15 December 1621
| 12 August 1624
|-
| 70px
| Cardinal Richelieu<br/>
| 12 August 1624
| 4 December 1642<br/>
|-
| rowspan=3 | Louis XIV<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Cardinal Mazarin<br />
| 5 December 1642
| 9 March 1661<br />
|-
| colspan=2 | Position vacant<br/>(absolute rule by Louis XIV)
| 9 March 1661
| 1 September 1715
|-
| 70px
| Guillaume Dubois<br/>
| 12 September 1715
| 10 August 1723<br/>
| rowspan=7 | Louis XV<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Philippe II, Duke of Orléans<br/>
| 10 August 1723
| 2 December 1723<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Louis Henri, Duke of Bourbon<br/>
| 2 December 1723
| 11 June 1726
|-
| 70px
| André-Hercule de Fleury<br/>
| 11 June 1726
| 29 January 1743<br/>
|-
| colspan=2 | Position vacant<br/>(absolute rule by Louis XV)
| 29 January 1743
| 3 December 1758
|-
| 70px
| Étienne François de Choiseul, Duke of Choiseul<br/>
| 3 December 1758
| 24 December 1770
|-
| 70px
| René Nicolas Charles Augustin de Maupeou<br/>
| 25 December 1770
| 23 August 1774
|-
| 70px
| Jacques Turgot<br/>
| 24 August 1774
| 12 May 1776
| rowspan=9 | Louis XVI<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Jean-Frédéric Phélypeaux, comte de Maurepas<br/>
| 14 May 1776
| 21 November 1781<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Charles Gravier, comte de Vergennes<br/>
| 21 November 1781
| 13 February 1787<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Étienne Charles de Loménie de Brienne<br/>
| 1 May 1787
| 25 August 1788
|-
| 70px
| Jacques Necker<br/>
| 25 August 1788
| 11 July 1789
|-
| 70px
| Louis Auguste Le Tonnelier de Breteuil<br/>
| 11 July 1789
| 16 July 1789
|-
| 70px
| Jacques Necker<br/>
| 16 July 1789
| 3 September 1790
|-
| 70px
| Armand Marc, comte de Montmorin<br/>
| 3 September 1790
| 3 September 1791
|-
| colspan=2 | Constitutional cabinet<br/>(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 4–19 June 1794)
- Jean Jacques Régis de Cambacérès (7–22 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 crowned himself on December 2, 1804. As Emperor, Napoleon was both head of state and head of government under the new constitution.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Chief minister
! colspan=3 | Term of office
! colspan=2 | Faction
! Emperor<br/>
|-
| Position vacant<br/>(absolute rule by Napoleon)
| 1
| 18 May 1804
| 1 April 1814
| colspan=2 | Vacant
| Napoleon<br/>70px<br/>
|}
First Restoration (1814–1815)
Following Napoleon's defeat in the War of the Sixth Coalition, he abdicated and 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.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=2 | Chief minister
! colspan=3 | Term of office
! colspan=2 | Faction
! King<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord<br/>
| 1
| 1 April 1814
| 2 May 1814
! style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Independent
| rowspan=2 | Louis XVIII<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Pierre Louis Jean Casimir de Blacas<br/>
| 2
| 2 May 1814
| 8 July 1815
! style="background:" |
|}
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 second 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.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2 | Chief Minister
! colspan=3 | Term of office
! colspan=2 | Faction
! Emperor<br/>
|-
| colspan=2 | Position vacant<br/>(absolute rule by Napoleon I)
| 2
| 20 March 1815
| 22 June 1815
| colspan=2 | Vacant
| Napoleon I<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Joseph Fouché<br/>
| •
| 22 June 1815
| 7 July 1815
! style="background:" |
| Bonapartist
| Napoleon II<br/>70px<br/>
|}
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
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | President of the Council of Ministers<br/>
! colspan=4 | Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Faction
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
! rowspan=2 | King<br/>
|-
! colspan=3 | Tenure
! Duration
|-
| 70px
| Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord<br/>
| •
| 9 July 1815
| 26 September 1815
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Independent
| rowspan=2 | I<br/>(Chambre introuvable)<br/>
| rowspan=6 | Louis XVIII<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Armand-Emmanuel de Vignerot du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu<br/>
| 1
| 26 September 1815
| 29 December 1818
|
| style="background:" |
|-
| 70px
| Jean-Joseph, Marquis Dessolles<br/>
| •
| 29 December 1818
| 19 November 1819
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Doctrinaires
| rowspan=2 | II<br />
|-
| 70px
| Élie Decazes, duc de Glücksbierg and Decazes<br/>
| •
| 19 November 1819
| 20 February 1820
|
| style="background:" |
|-
| 70px
| Armand-Emmanuel de Vignerot du Plessis, Duc de Richelieu<br/>
| 2
| 20 February 1820
| 14 December 1821
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | III<br/>
|-
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Jean-Baptiste de Villèle<br/>
| rowspan=2 | •
| rowspan=2 | 14 December 1821
| rowspan=2 | 4 January 1828
| rowspan=2 |
! rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Ultra-royalist
|-
| IV<br/>
| rowspan=4 | Charles X<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Jean Baptiste Gay, vicomte de Martignac<br/>
| •
| 4 January 1828
| 8 August 1829
|
| style="background:" |
| Doctrinaires
| rowspan=3 | V<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Jules de Polignac, duc de Polignac<br/>
| •
| 8 August 1829
| 29 July 1830
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Ultra-royalist
|-
| 70px
| Casimir de Rochechouart, duc de Mortemart<br/>
| •
| colspan=2 | 29 July 1830
|
| style="background:" |
|}
July Monarchy (1830–1848)
When King Charles X was crowned 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
<br/>
<br/>
<br/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | President of the Council of Ministers<br/>
! colspan=4 |Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Faction
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
! rowspan=2 | King<br/>
|-
! colspan=3 | Tenure
! Duration
|-
| colspan=2 | Position vacant (government led by Louis Philippe I)
| (0)<br/>1
| 1 August 1830
| 2 November 1830
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Orléanist
| rowspan=2 | I<br/>
| rowspan=17 | Louis Philippe I<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Jacques Laffitte<br/>
| •
| 2 November 1830
| 13 March 1831
|
| style="background:" |
|-
| 70px
| Casimir Pierre Périer<br/>
| •
| 13 March 1831
| 16 May 1832
|
| style="background:" |
| Resistance Party
| rowspan=2 | II<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Jean-de-Dieu Soult<br/>
| 1
| 11 October 1832
| 18 July 1834
|
| style="background:" |
| Orléanist
|-
| 70px
| Étienne Maurice Gérard<br/>
| •
| 18 July 1834
| 10 November 1834
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Independent
| rowspan=6 | III<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Hugues-Bernard Maret<br/>
| •
| 10 November 1834
| 18 November 1834
|
| style="background:" |
|-
| 70px
| Édouard Mortier<br/>
| •
| 18 November 1834
| 12 March 1835
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Resistance Party
|-
| 70px
| Victor de Broglie<br/>
| •
| 12 March 1835
| 22 February 1836
|
| style="background:" |
|-
| 70px
| Adolphe Thiers<br/>
| 1
| 22 February 1836
| 6 September 1836
|
| style="background:" |
| Movement Party
|-
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Louis-Mathieu Molé<br/>
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 6 September 1836
| rowspan=2 | 31 March 1839
| rowspan=2 |
! rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Resistance Party
|-
| 2
| rowspan=2 | IV<br/>
|-
| colspan=2 | Position vacant<br/>(government led by<br/>Louis Philippe I)
| 2
| 31 March 1839
| 12 May 1839
|
| style="background:" |
| (Orléanist)
|-
| 70px
| Jean-de-Dieu Soult<br/>
| 2
| 12 May 1839
| 1 March 1840
|
| style="background:" |
| Resistance Party
| rowspan=2 | V<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Adolphe Thiers<br/>
| 2
| 1 March 1840
| 29 October 1840
|
| style="background:" |
| Movement Party
|-
| 70px
| Jean-de-Dieu Soult<br/>
| 3
| 29 October 1840
| 19 September 1847
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Resistance Party
| VI<br/>
|-
| 70px
| François Guizot<br/>
| rowspan=2 | •
| 19 September 1847
| 23 February 1848
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | VII<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Louis-Mathieu Molé<br/>
| 23 February 1848
| 24 February 1848
|
| style="background:" |
|}
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
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2 | President of the Council of Ministers<br/>
! colspan=4 | Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Faction
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | President<br/>
|-
! colspan=3 | Tenure
! Duration
|-
! 1
| 70px
| Jacques-Charles Dupont de l'Eure<br/>
| •
| 24 February 1848
| 9 May 1848
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Moderate Republican
| rowspan=4 | Const.<br />
| rowspan=3 style="background:;" |
| Himself<br/>
|-
! 2
| 70px
| François Arago<br/>
| •
| 10 May 1848
| 24 June 1848
|
| style="background:" |
| Executive Commission
|-
! 3
| 70px
| Louis-Eugène Cavaignac<br/>
| •
| 28 June 1848
| 20 December 1848
|
| style="background:" |
| Himself<br/>
|-
! rowspan=2 | 4
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Odilon Barrot<br />
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 20 December 1848
| rowspan=2 | 31 October 1849
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Party of Order
| rowspan=8 style="background:; color:white" |1
| rowspan=8 | Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 2
| rowspan=7 | Leg.<br/>
|-
! 5
| 70px
| Alphonse Henri, comte d'Hautpoul<br/>
| •
| 31 October 1849
| 24 January 1851
|
| style="background:" |
|-
| colspan=3 | Position vacant<br/>(government led by<br/>Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte)
| •
| 24 January 1851
| 10 April 1851
|
| colspan=2 | Vacant
|-
! 6
| 70px
| Léon Faucher<br/>
| •
| 10 April 1851
| 26 October 1851
|
| style="background:" |
| Party of Order
|-
| colspan=3 rowspan=3 | Position vacant<br/>(government led by<br/>Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte)
| 0
| rowspan=3 | 26 October 1851
| rowspan=3 | 2 December 1852
| rowspan=3 |
| colspan=2 rowspan=3 | 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 crowned 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
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Cabinet Chief<br/>
! colspan=4 | Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Faction
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
! rowspan=2 | Emperor<br/>
|-
! colspan=3 | Tenure
! Duration
|-
| colspan=2 rowspan=4 | Position vacant<br/>(absolute rule by Napoleon III)
| rowspan=3 | 3
| rowspan=4 | 2 December 1852
| rowspan=4 | 27 December 1869
| rowspan=4 |
| colspan=2 rowspan=4 | Vacant
| I<br/>
| rowspan=6 | Napoleon III<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| II<br/>
|-
| III<br/>
|-
| 4
| rowspan=3 | IV<br/>
|-
| 70px
| Émile Ollivier<br/>
| •
| 2 January 1870
| 9 August 1870
|
| style="background:" |
| Bonapartist
|-
| 70px
| Charles Cousin-Montauban<br/>
| •
| 9 August 1870
| 4 September 1870
|
| style="background:" |
| 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
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2 | President of the Government of National Defense<br/>
! colspan=4 | Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Faction
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
|-
! colspan=3 | Tenure
! Duration
|-
!
| 70px
| Louis-Jules Trochu<br/>
| •
| 4 September 1870
| 22 January 1871
|
| style="background:" |
| Military
| None
|}
Presidents of the Council of Ministers
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2 | President of the Council of Ministers<br/>
! colspan=4 | Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Political party or faction<br/>
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | President<br/>
|-
! colspan=3 | Tenure
! Duration
|-
! rowspan=2 | 7
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Jules Armand Dufaure<br/>
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 19 February 1871
| rowspan=2 | 24 May 1873
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Moderate Republicans
| rowspan=8 | National Assembly
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |2
| rowspan=2 | Adolphe Thiers<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 2
|-
! rowspan=2 | 8
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Albert, duc de Broglie<br/>
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 25 May 1873
| rowspan=2 | 22 May 1874
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=4 | Monarchist
| rowspan=10 style="background:" |3
| rowspan=10 | Patrice de MacMahon<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 2
|-
! 9
| 70px
| Ernest Courtot de Cissey<br/>
| •
| 22 May 1874
| 10 March 1875
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! 10
| 70px
| Louis Buffet<br/>
| •
| 10 March 1875
| 23 February 1876
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! rowspan=2 | (7)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Jules Armand Dufaure<br/>
| 3
| rowspan=2 | 23 February 1876
| rowspan=2 | 12 December 1876
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Moderate Republicans
|-
| 4
|-
! 11
| 70px
| Jules Simon<br/>
| •
| 12 December 1876
| 17 May 1877
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | I
|-
! (8)
| 70px
| Albert, duc de Broglie<br/>
| 3
| 17 May 1877
| 23 November 1877
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Monarchist
|-
! 12
| 70px
| Gaëtan de Rochebouët<br/>
| •
| 23 November 1877
| 13 December 1877
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=5 | II
|-
! (7)
| 70px
| Jules Armand Dufaure<br/>
| 5
| 13 December 1877
| 4 February 1879
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=9 | Moderate Republicans
|-
! 13
| 70px
| William Waddington<br/>
| •
| 4 February 1879
| 28 December 1879
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=12 style="background:" |4
| rowspan=12 | Jules Grévy<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! 14
| 70px
| Charles de Freycinet<br/>
| 1
| 28 December 1879
| 23 September 1880
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! 15
| 70px
| Jules Ferry<br/>
| 1
| 23 September 1880
| 14 November 1881
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! 16
| 70px
| Léon Gambetta<br/>
| •
| 14 November 1881
| 30 January 1882
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=6 | III
|-
! (14)
| 70px
| Charles de Freycinet<br/>
| 2
| 30 January 1882
| 7 August 1882
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! 17
| 70px
| Charles Duclerc<br/>
| •
| 7 August 1882
| 29 January 1883
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! 18
| 70px
| Armand Fallières<br/>
| •
| 29 January 1883
| 21 February 1883
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! (15)
| 70px
| Jules Ferry<br/>
| 2
| 21 February 1883
| 6 April 1885
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! 19
| 70px
| Henri Brisson<br/>
| 1
| 6 April 1885
| 7 January 1886
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical Republicans
|-
! (14)
| 70px
| Charles de Freycinet<br/>
| 3
| 7 January 1886
| 16 December 1886
|
| style="background:" |
| Moderate Republicans
| rowspan=6 | IV
|-
! 20
| 70px
| René Goblet<br/>
| •
| 16 December 1886
| 30 May 1887
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical Republicans
|-
! 21
| 70px
| Maurice Rouvier<br/>
| 1
| 30 May 1887
| 12 December 1887
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=13 | Moderate Republicans
|-
! 22
| 70px
| Pierre Tirard<br/>
| 1
| 12 December 1887
| 3 April 1888
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=10 style="background:" |5
| rowspan=10 | Sadi Carnot<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! 23
| 70px
| Charles Floquet<br/>
| •
| 3 April 1888
| 22 February 1889
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! (22)
| 70px
| Pierre Tirard<br/>
| 2
| 22 February 1889
| 17 March 1890
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! (14)
| 70px
| Charles de Freycinet<br/>
| 4
| 17 March 1890
| 27 February 1892
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=5 | V
|-
! 24
| 70px
| Émile Loubet<br/>
| •
| 27 February 1892
| 6 December 1892
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! rowspan=2 | 25
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Alexandre Ribot<br/>
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 6 December 1892
| rowspan=2 | 4 April 1893
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
|-
| 2
|-
! 26
| 70px
| Charles Dupuy<br/>
| 1
| 4 April 1893
| 3 December 1893
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! 27
| 70px
| Jean Casimir-Perier<br/>
| •
| 3 December 1893
| 30 May 1894
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=6 | VI
|-
! rowspan=2 | (26)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Charles Dupuy<br/>
| 2
| rowspan=2 | 30 May 1894
| rowspan=2 | 26 January 1895
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
|-
| 3
| style="background:" |6
| Jean Casimir-Perier<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! (25)
| 70px
| Alexandre Ribot<br/>
| 3
| 26 January 1895
| 1 November 1895
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=5 style="background:" |7
| rowspan=5 | Félix Faure<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! 28
| 70px
| Léon Bourgeois<br/>
| •
| 1 November 1895
| 29 April 1896
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical Republicans
|-
! 29
| 70px
| Jules Méline<br/>
| •
| 29 April 1896
| 28 June 1898
|
| style="background:" |
| Moderate Republicans
|-
! (17)
| 70px
| Henri Brisson<br/>
| 2
| 28 June 1898
| 1 November 1898
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical Republicans
| rowspan=4 | VII
|-
! rowspan=2 | (26)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Charles Dupuy<br/>
| 4
| rowspan=2 | 1 November 1898
| rowspan=2 | 22 June 1899
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Moderate Republicans
|-
| 5
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=4 | Émile Loubet<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! 30
| 70px
| Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau<br/>
| •
| 22 June 1899
| 7 June 1902
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |8
|-
! 31
| 70px
| Émile Combes<br/>
| •
| 7 June 1902
| 24 January 1905
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical-Socialist Party<br/>
| rowspan=4 | VIII
|-
! rowspan=2 | (21)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Maurice Rouvier<br/>
| 2
| rowspan=2 | 24 January 1905
| rowspan=2 | 12 March 1906
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Democratic Republican Alliance
|-
| 3
| rowspan=9 style="background:" |9
| rowspan=9 | Armand Fallières<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! 32
| 70px
| Ferdinand Sarrien<br/>
| •
| 12 March 1906
| 25 October 1906
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical-Socialist Party
|-
! 33
| 70px
| Georges Clemenceau<br/>
| 1
| 25 October 1906
| 24 July 1909
|
| style="background:" |
| Independent
| rowspan=3 | IX
|-
! rowspan=2 | 34
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Aristide Briand<br/>
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 24 July 1909
| rowspan=2 | 2 March 1911
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Republican-Socialist Party
|-
| 2
|-
! 35
| 70px
| Ernest Monis<br/>
| •
| 2 March 1911
| 27 June 1911
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Radical-Socialist Party
| rowspan=7 | X
|-
! 36
| 70px
| Joseph Caillaux<br/>
| •
| 27 June 1911
| 21 January 1912
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! 37
| 70px
| Raymond Poincaré<br/>
| 1
| 21 January 1912
| 21 January 1913
| year
| style="background:" |
| Republican Democratic Party
|-
! rowspan=2 | (34)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Aristide Briand<br/>
| 3
| rowspan=2 | 21 January 1913
| rowspan=2 | 22 March 1913
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Republican-Socialist Party
|-
| 4
| rowspan=12 style="background:" |10
| rowspan=12 | Raymond Poincaré<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! 38
| 70px
| Louis Barthou<br/>
| •
| 22 March 1913
| 9 December 1913
|
| style="background:" |
| Republican Democratic Party
|-
! 39
| 70px
| Gaston Doumergue<br/>
| 1
| 9 December 1913
| 9 June 1914
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical-Socialist Party
|-
! (25)
| 70px
| Alexandre Ribot<br/>
| 4
| 9 June 1914
| 13 June 1914
|
| style="background:" |
| Republican Federation
| rowspan=8 | XI
|-
! rowspan=2 | 40
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | René Viviani<br/>
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 13 June 1914
| rowspan=2 | 29 October 1915
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=4 | Republican-Socialist Party
|-
| 2
|-
! rowspan=2 | (34)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Aristide Briand<br/>
| 5
| rowspan=2 | 29 October 1915
| rowspan=2 | 20 March 1917
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
|-
| 6
|-
! (25)
| 70px
| Alexandre Ribot<br/>
| 5
| 20 March 1917
| 12 September 1917
|
| style="background:" |
| Republican Federation
|-
! 41
| 70px
| Paul Painlevé<br/>
| 1
| 12 September 1917
| 16 November 1917
|
| style="background:" |
| Republican-Socialist Party
|-
! (33)
| 70px
| Georges Clemenceau<br/>
| 2
| 16 November 1917
| 20 January 1920
|
| style="background:" |
| Independent
|-
! rowspan=2 | 42
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Alexandre Millerand<br/>
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 20 January 1920
| rowspan=2 | 24 September 1920
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Independent<br/>
| rowspan=6 | XII
|-
| 2
| rowspan=1 style="background:" |11
| rowspan=1 | Paul Deschanel<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! 43
| 70px
| Georges Leygues<br/>
| •
| 24 September 1920
| 16 January 1921
|
| style="background:" |
| Republican, Democratic and Social Party<br/>
| rowspan=5 style="background:" |12
| rowspan=5 | Alexandre Millerand<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! (34)
| 70px
| Aristide Briand<br/>
| 7
| 16 January 1921
| 15 January 1922
|
| style="background:" |
| Republican-Socialist Party
|-
! rowspan=2 | (37)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Raymond Poincaré<br/>
| 2
| rowspan=2 | 15 January 1922
| rowspan=2 | 8 June 1924
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Republican, Democratic and Social Party<br/>
|-
| 3
|-
! 44
| 70px
| Frédéric François-Marsal<br/>
| •
| 8 June 1924
| 15 June 1924
|
| style="background:" |
| Republican Federation<br/>
| rowspan=10 | XIII
|-
! 45
| 70px
| Édouard Herriot<br/>
| 1
| 15 June 1924
| 17 April 1925
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical-Socialist Party<br/>
| rowspan=15 style="background:" |13
| rowspan=15 | Gaston Doumergue<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! rowspan=2 | (41)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Paul Painlevé<br/>
| 2
| rowspan=2 | 17 April 1925
| rowspan=2 | 28 November 1925
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=5 | Republican-Socialist Party<br/>
|-
| 3
|-
! rowspan=3 | (34)
| rowspan=3 | 70px
| rowspan=3 | Aristide Briand<br/>
| 8
| rowspan=3 | 28 November 1925
| rowspan=3 | 20 July 1926
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
|-
| 9
|-
| 10
|-
! (45)
| 70px
| Édouard Herriot<br/>
| 2
| 20 July 1926
| 23 July 1926
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical-Socialist Party<br/>
|-
! rowspan=2 | (37)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Raymond Poincaré<br/>
| 4
| rowspan=2 | 23 July 1926
| rowspan=2 | 29 July 1929
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Democratic Alliance<br/>
|-
| 5
|-
! (34)
| 70px
| Aristide Briand<br/>
| 11
| 29 July 1929
| 2 November 1929
|
| style="background:" |
| Republican-Socialist Party
| rowspan=9 | XIV
|-
! 46
| 70px
| André Tardieu<br/>
| 1
| 2 November 1929
| 21 February 1930
|
| style="background:" |
| Democratic Alliance
|-
! 47
| 70px
| Camille Chautemps<br/>
| 1
| 21 February 1930
| 2 March 1930
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical-Socialist Party
|-
! (46)
| 70px
| André Tardieu<br/>
| 2
| 2 March 1930
| 13 December 1930
|
| style="background:" |
| Democratic Alliance
|-
! 48
| 70px
| Théodore Steeg<br/>
| •
| 13 December 1930
| 27 January 1931
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical-Socialist Party
|-
! rowspan=3 | 49
| rowspan=3 | 70px
| rowspan=3 | Pierre Laval<br/>
| 1
| rowspan=3 | 27 January 1931
| rowspan=3 | 20 February 1932
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Independent
|-
| 2
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |14
| rowspan=3 | Paul Doumer<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 3
|-
! (46)
| 70px
| André Tardieu<br/>
| 3
| 20 February 1932
| 3 June 1932
|
| style="background:" |
| Democratic Alliance
|-
! (45)
| 70px
| Édouard Herriot<br/>
| 3
| 3 June 1932
| 18 December 1932
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical-Socialist Party<br/>(Cartel des Gauches)
| rowspan=11 | XV
| rowspan=20 style="background:" |15
| rowspan=20 | Albert Lebrun<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! 50
| 70px
| Joseph Paul-Boncour<br/>
| •
| 18 December 1932
| 31 January 1933
|
| style="background:" |
| Republican-Socialist Party<br/>
|-
! 51
| 70px
| Édouard Daladier<br/>
| 1
| 31 January 1933
| 26 October 1933
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=4 | Radical-Socialist Party<br/>
|-
! 52
| 70px
| Albert Sarraut<br/>
| 1
| 26 October 1933
| 26 November 1933
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! (47)
| 70px
| Camille Chautemps<br/>
| 2
| 26 November 1933
| 30 January 1934
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! (51)
| 70px
| Édouard Daladier<br/>
| 2
| 30 January 1934
| 9 February 1934
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! (39)
| 70px
| Gaston Doumergue<br/>
| 2
| 9 February 1934
| 8 November 1934
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical-Socialist Party
|-
! 53
| 70px
| Pierre-Étienne Flandin<br/>
| 1
| 8 November 1934
| 1 June 1935
|
| style="background:" |
| Democratic Alliance
|-
! 54
| 70px
| Fernand Bouisson<br/>
| •
| 1 June 1935
| 7 June 1935
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan="2" | Independent
|-
! (49)
| 70px
| Pierre Laval<br/>
| 4
| 7 June 1935
| 24 January 1936
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! (52)
| 70px
| Albert Sarraut<br/>
| 2
| 24 January 1936
| 4 June 1936
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical-Socialist Party
|-
! 55
| 70px
| Léon Blum<br/>
| 1
| 4 June 1936
| 22 June 1937
|
| style="background:" |
| French Section of the Workers' International<br/>
| rowspan=9 | XVI
|-
! rowspan=2 | (47)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Camille Chautemps<br/>
| 3
| rowspan=2 | 22 June 1937
| rowspan=2 | 13 March 1938
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Radical-Socialist Party<br/>
|-
| 4
|-
! (55)
| 70px
| Léon Blum<br/>
| 2
| 13 March 1938
| 10 April 1938
|
| style="background:" |
| French Section of the Workers' International<br/>
|-
! rowspan=3 | (51)
| rowspan=3 | 70px
| rowspan=3 | Édouard Daladier<br/>
| 3
| rowspan=3 | 10 April 1938
| rowspan=3 | 21 March 1940
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Radical-Socialist Party
|-
| 4
|-
| 5
|-
! 56
| 70px
| Paul Reynaud<br/>
| •
| 21 March 1940
| 16 June 1940
|
| style="background:" |
| Democratic Alliance
|-
! 57
| 70px
| Philippe Pétain<br/>
| •
| 16 June 1940
| 11 July 1940
|
| style="background:" |
| 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
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2 | Vice-president of the Council of Ministers<br/>
! colspan=4 | Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Faction
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Head of State<br/>
|-
! colspan=3 | Tenure
! Duration
|-
! (49)
| 70px
| Pierre Laval<br/>
| 5
| 11 July 1940
| 13 December 1940
|
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | National Revolution
| rowspan=3 | None
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Philippe Pétain<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! (53)
| 70px
| Pierre-Étienne Flandin<br/>
| 2
| 13 December 1940
| 9 February 1941
|
|-
! 58
| 70px
| François Darlan<br/>
| •
| 9 February 1941
| 18 April 1942
|
|}
Chief of the Government
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2 | Chief of the Government<br/>
! colspan=4 | Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Faction
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Head of State<br/>
|-
! colspan=3 | Tenure
! Duration
|-
! (49)
| 70px
| Pierre Laval<br/>
| 6
| 18 April 1942
| 19 August 1944
|
| style="background:" |
| National Revolution
| None
| style="background:" |
| Philippe Pétain<br/>70px<br/>
|}
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
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2 | Chairman of the Provisional Government<br/>
! colspan=4 | Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Political party<br/>
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
|-
! colspan=3 | Tenure
! Duration
|-
! rowspan=2 | 59
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Charles de Gaulle<br/>
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 3 June 1944
| rowspan=2 | 26 January 1946
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Independent
| Provisional
|-
| 2
| rowspan=2 | I<br/>
|-
! 60
| 70px
| Félix Gouin<br/>
| •
| 26 January 1946
| 24 June 1946
|
| style="background:" |
| French Section of the Workers' International<br/>
|-
! 61
| 70px
| Georges Bidault<br/>
| 1
| 24 June 1946
| 16 December 1946
|
| style="background:" |
| Popular Republican Movement<br/>
| II<br/>
|-
! –
| 70px
| Vincent Auriol<br/>
| –
| 28 November 1946
| 16 December 1946
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | French Section of the Workers' International<br/>
| rowspan=2 | '<br/>I<br/>
|-
! 62
| 70px
| Léon Blum<br/>
| 3
| 16 December 1946
| 22 January 1947
|
| style="background:" |
|}
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
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! colspan=3 rowspan=2 | President of the Council of Ministers<br/>
! colspan=4 | Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Political party<br/>
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | President<br/>
|-
! colspan=3 | Tenure
! Duration
|-
! rowspan=2 | 63
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Paul Ramadier<br />
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 22 January 1947
| rowspan=2 | 24 November 1947
| rowspan=2 |
! rowspan=2 style="background: " |
| rowspan=2 | French Section of the Workers' International<br />
| rowspan=11 | I
| rowspan=16 style="background:" |16
| rowspan=16 | Vincent Auriol<br />70px<br />
|-
| 2
|-
! 64
| 70px
| Robert Schuman<br/>
| 1
| 24 November 1947
| 24 July 1948
|
| style="background:" |
| Popular Republican Movement<br/>
|-
! 65
| 70px
| André Marie<br/>
| •
| 24 July 1948
| 2 September 1948
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical Party<br/>
|-
! (64)
| 70px
| Robert Schuman<br/>
| 2
| 2 September 1948
| 11 September 1948
|
| style="background:" |
| Popular Republican Movement<br/>
|-
! 66
| 70px
| Henri Queuille<br/>
| 1
| 11 September 1948
| 28 October 1949
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical Party<br/>
|-
! rowspan=2 | (61)
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Georges Bidault<br/>
| 2
| rowspan=2 | 28 October 1949
| rowspan=2 | 2 July 1950
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Popular Republican Movement<br/>
|-
| 3
|-
! (66)
| 70px
| Henri Queuille<br/>
| 2
| 2 July 1950
| 12 July 1950
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical Party<br/>
|-
! 67
| 70px
| René Pleven<br/>
| 1
| 12 July 1950
| 10 March 1951
|
| style="background:" |
| Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance<br/>
|-
! (66)
| 70px
| Henri Queuille<br/>
| 3
| 10 March 1951
| 11 August 1951
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical Party<br/>
|-
! (67)
| 70px
| René Pleven<br/>
| 2
| 11 August 1951
| 20 January 1952
|
| style="background:" |
| Democratic and Socialist Union of the Resistance<br/>
| rowspan=8 | II
|-
! 68
| 70px
| Edgar Faure<br/>
| 1
| 20 January 1952
| 8 March 1952
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical Party
|-
! 69
| 70px
| Antoine Pinay<br/>
| •
| 8 March 1952
| 8 January 1953
|
| style="background:" |
| National Centre of Independents and Peasants
|-
! 70
| 70px
| René Mayer<br/>
| •
| 8 January 1953
| 28 June 1953
|
| style="background:" |
| Radical Party
|-
! rowspan=2 | 71
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Joseph Laniel<br/>
| 1
| rowspan=2 | 28 June 1953
| rowspan=2 | 19 June 1954
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | National Centre of Independents and Peasants
|-
| 2
| rowspan=8 style="background:" |17
| rowspan=8 | René Coty<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! 72
| 70px
| Pierre Mendès France<br/>
| •
| 19 June 1954
| 17 February 1955
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan="2" | Radical Party
|-
! (68)
| 70px
| Edgar Faure<br/>
| 2
| 17 February 1955
| 1 February 1956
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! 73
| 70px
| Guy Mollet<br/>
| •
| 1 February 1956
| 13 June 1957
|
| style="background:" |
| French Section of the Workers' International<br/>
| rowspan=5 | III
|-
! 74
| 70px
| Maurice Bourgès-Maunoury<br/>
| •
| 13 June 1957
| 6 November 1957
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan="2" | Radical Party<br/>
|-
! 75
| 70px
| Felix Gaillard<br/>
| •
| 6 November 1957
| 14 May 1958
|
| style="background:" |
|-
! 76
| 70px
| Pierre Pflimlin<br/>
| •
| 14 May 1958
| 1 June 1958
|
| style="background:" |
| Popular Republican Movement
|-
! (59)
| 70px
| Charles de Gaulle<br/>
| 3
| 1 June 1958
| 8 January 1959
|
| style="background:" |
| 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
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="100%" style="text-align: center"
|-
! rowspan=2 | S. No.
! rowspan=2 | Portrait
! rowspan=2 | Prime Minister<br>
! colspan=3 | Term of office
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | Political party<br/>
! rowspan=2 | Government
! rowspan=2 | Legislature<br/>
! colspan=2 rowspan=2 | President<br/>
|-
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! Duration
|-
! 77
| 70px
| Michel Debré<br/>
| 8 January 1959
| 14 April 1962
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=5 | Union for the New Republic
|
| rowspan=2 | I<br/>
| rowspan=6 style="background:; color:white;" |18
| rowspan=6 | Charles de Gaulle<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! rowspan=4 | 78
| rowspan=4 | 70px
| rowspan=4 | Georges Pompidou<br/>
| 14 April 1962
| 7 December 1962
| rowspan=4 |
| rowspan=4 style="background:" |
|
|-
| 7 December 1962
| 8 January 1966
|
| rowspan=2 | II<br/>
|-
| 8 January 1966
| 7 April 1967
|
|-
| 7 April 1967
| 10 July 1968
|
| III<br/>
|-
! 79
| 70px
| Maurice Couve de Murville<br/>
| 10 July 1968
| 20 June 1969
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=6 | Union of Democrats for the Republic
|
| rowspan=3 | IV<br/>
|-
! 80
| 70px
| Jacques Chaban-Delmas<br/>
| 20 June 1969
| 5 July 1972
|
| style="background:" |
|
| rowspan=4 style="background:; color:white;" |19
| rowspan=4 | Georges Pompidou
70px<br />
|-
! rowspan=3 | 81
| rowspan=3 | 70px
| rowspan=3 | Pierre Messmer<br/>
| 5 July 1972
| 5 April 1973
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
|
|-
| 5 April 1973
| 1 March 1974
|
| rowspan=5 | V<br/>
|-
| 1 March 1974
| 27 May 1974
|
|-
! 82
| 70px
| Jacques Chirac<br/>
| 27 May 1974
| 25 August 1976
|
| style="background:" |
|
| rowspan=4 style="background:;" |20
| rowspan=4 | Valéry Giscard d'Estaing<br/>70px<br/>
|-
! rowspan=3 | 83
| rowspan=3 | 70px
| rowspan=3 | Raymond Barre<br/>
| 25 August 1976
| 30 March 1977
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Miscellaneous right<br/>Union for French Democracy|
|
|-
| 30 March 1977
| 5 April 1978
|
|-
| 5 April 1978
| 21 May 1981
|
| rowspan=2 | VI<br/>
|-
! rowspan=3 | 84
| rowspan=3 | 70px
| rowspan=3 | Pierre Mauroy<br/>
| 21 May 1981
| 23 June 1981
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
| rowspan=4 | Socialist Party
|
| rowspan=10 style="background:;" |21
| rowspan=10 | François Mitterrand<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 23 June 1981
| 22 March 1983
|
| rowspan=3 | VII<br/>
|-
| 22 March 1983
| 17 July 1984
|
|-
! 85
| 70px
| Laurent Fabius<br/>
| 17 July 1984
| 20 March 1986
|
| style="background:" |
|
|-
! (82)
| 70px
| Jacques Chirac<br/>
| 20 March 1986
| 10 May 1988
|
| style="background:" |
| Rally for the Republic
|
| rowspan=2 | VIII<br/>
|-
! rowspan=2 | 86
| style="height:90px;" rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Michel Rocard<br/>
| 10 May 1988
| 28 June 1988
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=4 | Socialist Party
| Rocard I
|-
| 28 June 1988
| 15 May 1991
| Rocard II
| rowspan=3 | IX<br/>
|-
! 87
| 70px
| Édith Cresson<br/>
| 15 May 1991
| 2 April 1992
|
| style="background:" |
|
|-
! 88
| 70px
| Pierre Bérégovoy<br/>
| 2 April 1992
| 29 March 1993
|
| style="background:" |
|
|-
! 89
| 70px
| Édouard Balladur<br/>
| 29 March 1993
| 17 May 1995
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Rally for the Republic
|
| rowspan=3 | X<br/>
|-
! rowspan=2 | 90
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Alain Juppé<br/>
| 17 May 1995
| 7 November 1995
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
|
| rowspan=7 style="background:; color:white" | 22
| rowspan=7 | Jacques Chirac<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 7 November 1995
| 2 June 1997
|
|-
! 91
| 70px
| Lionel Jospin<br/>
| 2 June 1997
| 6 May 2002
|
| style="background:" |
| Socialist Party
| Jospin
| rowspan=2 | XI<br/>
|-
! rowspan=3 | 92
| rowspan=3 | 70px
| rowspan=3 | Jean-Pierre Raffarin<br/>
| 6 May 2002
| 17 June 2002
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Liberal Democracy,<br/> later Union for a Popular Movement
|
|-
| 17 June 2002
| 31 March 2004
|
| rowspan=4 | XII<br/>
|-
| 31 March 2004
| 31 May 2005
|
|-
! 93
| 70px
| Dominique de Villepin<br/>
| 31 May 2005
| 17 May 2007
|
| style="background:" |
| rowspan=4 | Union for a Popular Movement
|
|-
! rowspan=3 | 94
| rowspan=3 | 70px
| rowspan=3 | François Fillon<br/>
| 17 May 2007
| 19 June 2007
| rowspan=3 |
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
|
| rowspan=3 style="background:; color:white;" |23
| rowspan=3 | Nicolas Sarkozy<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 19 June 2007
| 14 November 2010
|
| rowspan=3 | XIII<br/>
|-
| 14 November 2010
| 15 May 2012
| Fillon III
|-
! rowspan=2 | 95
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Jean-Marc Ayrault<br/>
| 15 May 2012
| 21 June 2012
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=5 | Socialist Party
| Ayrault I
| rowspan=5 style="background:;" |24
| rowspan=5 | François Hollande<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 21 June 2012
| 31 March 2014
| Ayrault II
| rowspan=5| XIV<br/>
|-
! rowspan=2 | 96
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Manuel Valls<br/>
| 31 March 2014
| 26 August 2014
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| Valls I
|-
| 26 August 2014
| 6 December 2016
| Valls II
|-
! 97
| 70px
| Bernard Cazeneuve<br/>
| 6 December 2016
| 15 May 2017
|
| style="background:" |
| Cazeneuve
|-
! rowspan=2 | 98
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Édouard Philippe<br/>
| 15 May 2017
| 21 June 2017
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 |
| Philippe I
| rowspan=10 style="background:|25
| rowspan=10 | Emmanuel Macron<br/>70px<br/>
|-
| 21 June 2017
| 3 July 2020
| Philippe II
| rowspan=3 | XV<br/>
|-
! 99
| 70px
| Jean Castex<br/>
| 3 July 2020
| 16 May 2022
|
| style="background:" |
| Independent
| Castex
|-
! rowspan=2 | 100
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Élisabeth Borne<br/>
| 16 May 2022
| 4 July 2022
| rowspan=2 |
| rowspan=3 style="background:" |
| rowspan=3 | Renaissance
| Borne I
|-
| 4 July 2022
| 9 January 2024
| Borne II
| rowspan=2 | XVI<br/>
|- style="height:2em"
! 101
| 70px
| Gabriel Attal<br/>
| 9 January 2024
| 5 September 2024
|
| Attal
|- style="height:2em"
! 102
| 70px
| Michel Barnier<br/>
| 5 September 2024
| 13 December 2024
|
| style="background:" |
| The Republicans
| Barnier
| rowspan=4 | XVII<br/>
|- style="height:2em"
! 103
| 70px
| François Bayrou<br/>
| 13 December 2024
| 9 September 2025
|
| style="background:" |
| Democratic Movement
| Bayrou
|- style="height:2em"
! rowspan=2 | 104
| rowspan=2 | 70px
| rowspan=2 | Sébastien Lecornu<br/>
| 9 September 2025
| 6 October 2025
|
| rowspan=2 style="background:" |
| rowspan=2 | Renaissance
| Lecornu I
|- style="height:2em"
| 10 October 2025
| Incumbent
|
| Lecornu II
|}
Living former prime ministers
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Name!!Mandate!!Date of birth
|-
|Laurent Fabius
|1984 – 1986
|
|-
|Édith Cresson
|1991 – 1992
|
|-
|Édouard Balladur
|1993 – 1995
|
|-
|Alain Juppé
|1995 – 1997
|
|-
|Jean-Pierre Raffarin
|2002 – 2005
|
|-
|Dominique de Villepin
|2005 – 2007
|
|-
|François Fillon
|2007 – 2012
|
|-
|Jean-Marc Ayrault
|2012 – 2014
|
|-
|Manuel Valls
|2014 – 2016
|
|-
|Bernard Cazeneuve
|2016 – 2017
|
|-
|Édouard Philippe
|2017 – 2020
|
|-
|Jean Castex
|2020 – 2022
|
|-
|Élisabeth Borne
|2022 – 2024
|
|-
|Gabriel Attal
|2024
|
|-
|Michel Barnier
|2024
|
|-
|François Bayrou
|2024 – 2025
|
|-
|Sébastien Lecornu
|2025
|
|-
|}
The most recent death of a former prime minister was that of Lionel Jospin (1997–2002), who died on 22 March 2026 at the age of 88.
Timeline
Executive Prime Ministers (1814–1959)
Semi-executive Prime Ministers (since 1959)
See also
- History of France
- Politics of France
- President of France
- List of presidents of France
Notes
References
External links
- List on the website of the French Prime Minister (in French)