Prime Minister of France facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prime Minister of theFrench Republic |
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Emblem of the French Republic
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| Style |
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| Reports to | |
| Residence | Hôtel Matignon |
| Seat | Paris, France |
| Appointer | President |
| Term length | Not fixed |
| Constituting instrument | Constitution of France |
| Precursor | Several titles were used since the Ancien Régime |
| Inaugural holder | Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord |
| Formation | 9 July 1815 |
| Salary | €178,920 annually |
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The prime minister of France is a very important leader in the French government. They are officially called the prime minister of the French Republic. This person is the head of government for France. They lead the group of ministers called the Council of Ministers. However, the President leads the meetings of this council, not the prime minister.
The prime minister holds the second most powerful job in France. The president appoints the prime minister. The president can ask the prime minister to resign, but cannot fire them directly. The entire French government, including the prime minister, can be removed by the National Assembly. When a new prime minister is chosen, they suggest a list of ministers to the president.
The prime minister signs many important decisions. These decisions are checked by special administrative courts. Some decisions are made after getting advice from the Council of State. The prime minister can even lead meetings of the Council of State. Ministers present their plans to the prime minister. The prime minister then makes choices about the budget.
How much power the prime minister has often depends on if they are from the same political party as the president. If they are, the president might act as both the head of state and the main head of government. In this case, the prime minister acts more like a helper.
The current prime minister is François Bayrou. He started his role on December 13, 2024.
Contents
How a Prime Minister is Chosen
The president of France chooses the prime minister. In theory, the president can pick anyone for the job. But in reality, it's a bit more complicated. The National Assembly has the power to make the government resign. This happens if they vote against the government in a motion of no confidence. So, the president usually has to choose someone who has the support of most members in the National Assembly.
What is Cohabitation?
Sometimes, the president and the majority in the National Assembly are from different political parties. This situation is called "cohabitation." During cohabitation, the prime minister is mainly responsible to the parliament.
For example, in 1986, President François Mitterrand had to appoint Jacques Chirac as prime minister. Mitterrand's party did not have a majority in the National Assembly. But Chirac's party, the Rally for the Republic, had an alliance that gave them a majority.
Who Can Be Prime Minister?
Prime ministers are usually chosen from the National Assembly. But sometimes, a president picks someone who has not been elected. This might happen if the person has a lot of experience in government work or business. For instance, Dominique de Villepin was prime minister from 2005 to 2007. He had not held an elected office before that.
A prime minister does not need to ask for a special vote of confidence after forming a government. They are already approved by the president's choice and the government's approval. Before 1958, governments had to pass a confidence vote when they started.
What the Prime Minister Does
The French Constitution explains the prime minister's role. Article 21 says the prime minister "shall direct the actions of the Government." Article 20 states that the government "shall determine and conduct the policy of the Nation." This includes dealing with issues inside France. The president focuses more on national defense and foreign policy. The president also makes sure all government parts work well together.
Other government members are chosen by the president. But this happens "on the recommendation of the prime minister." This means the prime minister suggests who should be ministers.
Prime Minister's Power During Cohabitation
Usually, the prime minister works closely with the president. But during "cohabitation," things change. The power shifts from the president's office (the Élysée Palace) to the prime minister's office (Matignon). In these times, the prime minister usually handles issues within France. The president focuses more on defense and foreign affairs.
How Laws Are Passed
The prime minister can "engage the responsibility" of the government before the National Assembly. This is a special way to pass a bill. The prime minister presents a bill to the assembly. Then, either the assembly votes to remove the government, or the bill automatically becomes law. This method helps pass important bills that might be hard to pass normally. It also shows that the government still has support.
The prime minister can also send a bill that has not become law yet to the Constitutional Council. This council checks if laws follow the Constitution. Before the president can dissolve the assembly, they must talk to the prime minister. They also talk to the leaders of both houses of Parliament. The prime minister is the only government member who can introduce new laws in Parliament.
History of the Prime Minister Role
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During the Third Republic, the head of government was called the "President of the Council of Ministers." Outside France, people often called him "prime minister."
This leader had similar powers to the prime minister in the United Kingdom. But in France, the parliament had many political parties. This made it hard for the leader to keep the parliament's support. The parliament could force the whole government to leave office with a special vote. Because of this, governments often changed twice a year. France sometimes had only a temporary government for long periods. The "President of the Council" was often a weak leader. Their power came more from their personality than from their official role. They were often just the chairman of the cabinet, not its strong leader.
In the 20th century, there were attempts to make the role stronger. Then, the Fifth Republic was created. This new system was called a semi-presidential system. At this time, the job was officially named "Prime Minister." The 1958 Constitution made the prime minister's position stronger. For example, it limited the parliament's power to remove the government.
Since then, a prime minister has only been removed by a vote of no confidence twice. The first time was in 1962. Georges Pompidou was removed because of disagreements over how the president should be elected. But after a new election, Pompidou was appointed prime minister again. The second time was in 2024. Michel Barnier's government was removed. This happened after he used a special rule (Article 49.3) to pass the Social Security budget without a vote in parliament.
See also
In Spanish: Primer ministro de Francia para niños
