French Presidents – Complete List Since 1945

France’s political landscape has been shaped by a series of influential leaders since the end of the Second World War. From the establishment of the Fourth Republic to the powerful executive of the Fifth Republic, the list of French presidents offers a lens into the country’s modern history. This article provides a complete, fact-based look at the presidents of France, their terms, and the structure of the French state.

Complete List of French Presidents in Order

The office of the presidency in France has existed in several forms. For the modern era, the sequence is best understood by examining the Fourth and Fifth Republics. Since 1947, exactly ten presidents have held office when considering both republics, including interim leaders.

Current President
Emmanuel Macron (since 2017)

Number of Presidents
25 (since 1848) / 8 under Fifth Republic

First Lady
Brigitte Macron

Head of Government
Prime Minister (currently Gabriel Attal)

Key insights

France has had 25 presidents since the establishment of the office in 1848, but only 8 since the start of the Fifth Republic in 1958.
The current president, Emmanuel Macron, is the youngest elected president in French history (age 39 in 2017).
Presidential terms were reduced from 7 to 5 years after a 2000 referendum.
No president has served more than two consecutive terms (limit introduced in 2008).
The French president appoints the prime minister, who must command the confidence of the National Assembly.

President	Term	Party	Prime Minister(s)
Emmanuel Macron	2017–present	La République En Marche!	Édouard Philippe, Jean Castex, Élisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal
François Hollande	2012–2017	Parti Socialiste	Jean-Marc Ayrault, Manuel Valls, Bernard Cazeneuve
Nicolas Sarkozy	2007–2012	Union pour un Mouvement Populaire	François Fillon
Jacques Chirac	1995–2007	Rassemblement pour la République, Union pour un Mouvement Populaire	Alain Juppé, Lionel Jospin, Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Dominique de Villepin
François Mitterrand	1981–1995	Parti Socialiste	Pierre Mauroy, Laurent Fabius, Jacques Chirac, Michel Rocard, Édith Cresson, Pierre Bérégovoy, Édouard Balladur
Valéry Giscard d’Estaing	1974–1981	Union pour la Démocratie Française	Jacques Chirac, Raymond Barre
Georges Pompidou	1969–1974	Union des Démocrates pour la République	Jacques Chaban-Delmas, Pierre Messmer
Charles de Gaulle	1959–1969	Union pour la Nouvelle République	Michel Debré, Georges Pompidou, Maurice Couve de Murville

Who Is the Current President of France?

Emmanuel Macron has served as the president of France since 14 May 2017. He won a second term in April 2022, securing a mandate for a further five years. His election marked a significant shift in French politics, breaking the traditional dominance of the Socialist and Republican parties. More details about the current office are available on the official Elysee.fr website.

Emmanuel Macron’s Term and Re-election

Macron’s first term focused on labor market reforms, tax cuts, and a pro-European Union agenda. His re-election campaign in 2022 centered on economic resilience and social stability. He is the first French president to be re-elected since Jacques Chirac in 2002.

Key Policies and Achievements

Among the notable measures introduced during Macron’s presidencies are the simplification of the labor code, the reduction of corporate tax, and the acceleration of renewable energy projects. His government also managed the economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic and oversaw France’s presidency of the Council of the EU in 2022.

Who Are the French President’s Wife and Daughter?

Clarification on family details

Brigitte Macron is the wife of Emmanuel Macron. There is no information in the provided sources confirming that the president has a biological daughter. Publicly available biography notes that Brigitte Macron has children from a previous marriage, but the specific family composition of the president’s household is not fully established in the supplied materials.

Brigitte Macron: The First Lady

Brigitte Macron has held a visible public role since her husband took office. In 2017, a charter was published to define her activities and status, though the term “First Lady” remains informal in French law. She does not receive a salary for her public engagements.

Emmanuel Macron’s Daughter and Family Life

The question of whether Emmanuel Macron has a daughter is frequently asked online. According to the research available, Macron’s family life is a private matter, and the sources used for this article do not contain a definitive answer regarding a daughter. The certainty around this point is low, and readers should refer to official biographical statements for the most accurate information.

List of French Presidents and Their Prime Ministers

The French political system features a dual executive. The president appoints the prime minister, who leads the government and must maintain the confidence of the National Assembly. Over time, several presidents have worked with multiple prime ministers, often reflecting shifting political alliances.

How the French President and Prime Minister Share Power

Under the Fifth Republic, the president is the head of state and oversees foreign policy, defense, and the appointment of high officials. The prime minister manages domestic affairs, economic policy, and the day-to-day operations of the government. During periods of cohabitation, when the president and the prime minister come from opposing parties, executive power shifts more heavily toward the prime minister. The constitutional framework for this division is outlined in the Constitution of France.

Notable President–Prime Minister Duos

The most famous instance of cohabitation occurred between Jacques Chirac (President, 1995–2007) and Lionel Jospin (Prime Minister, 1997–2002). Another notable pairing was François Mitterrand (President, 1981–1995) with Jacques Chirac as his prime minister during the first cohabitation from 1986 to 1988.

Timeline of French Presidents Since 1945

1947–1954: Vincent Auriol (Fourth Republic)
1954–1959: René Coty (Fourth Republic)
1959–1969: Charles de Gaulle (Fifth Republic founder) Britannica
1969–1974: Georges Pompidou
1974–1981: Valéry Giscard d’Estaing
1981–1995: François Mitterrand (longest-serving)
1995–2007: Jacques Chirac
2007–2012: Nicolas Sarkozy Elysee.fr
2012–2017: François Hollande
2017–present: Emmanuel Macron

Clarity on Key Facts and Uncertainties

Established information	Information that remains unclear
Number of presidents since 1945: high certainty – exactly 10 elected presidents if counting both republics; the Fifth Republic alone has 8.	Some sources count interim presidents (e.g., Alain Poher served twice as acting president). This content counts only elected presidents for simplicity.
Role of the president vs. prime minister: high certainty – the constitution clearly defines cohabitation and shared powers.	During cohabitation, the prime minister is from an opposing party, shifting executive power. The exact balance in practice varies.
First Lady’s official status: medium certainty – Brigitte Macron has an official role but no formal salary; status defined by a 2017 charter.	There is no ‘First Lady’ office in French law; the term is informal. The specific family composition (e.g., the president’s daughter) is not fully established in the provided sources.

Context: The Evolution of the French Presidency

The shift from the Fourth to the Fifth Republic in 1958 granted the president significantly stronger executive powers. The 1962 referendum established the direct popular election of the president, a major change from the previous system where the president was elected by an electoral college. In 2000, a further referendum shortened the presidential term from 7 to 5 years, aligning presidential and legislative elections. The election of Emmanuel Macron in 2017 broke the traditional dominance of the Socialist and Republican parties, introducing a new centrist force into French politics. Historical context on the Fifth Republic’s founding can be found at Britannica.

Sources and Authoritative Quotes

“The President of the Republic is the head of state, guarantor of national independence, territorial integrity, and respect for treaties.”

– Elysee.fr

“The President ensures the proper functioning of the public authorities and the continuity of the state.”

– Constitution of France (Article 5)

“The Fifth Republic was designed to end the instability of the Fourth Republic by giving the president strong executive powers.”

– Britannica

Summary: What to Remember

France has had ten presidents since 1945, with the current officeholder being Emmanuel Macron. The office has evolved significantly from the parliamentary Fourth Republic to the strong executive of the Fifth Republic. Understand the complete sequence, the relationship between president and prime minister, and the key milestones that have shaped the French state. For a deeper dive into the structure of French government, explore the French Government Structure Explained.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was the French president in 2000?

Jacques Chirac was the president of France in 2000. He served from 1995 to 2007.

How many French presidents have there been?

France has had 25 presidents since the office was created in 1848. Under the current Fifth Republic (since 1958), there have been 8 presidents.

What is the difference between the French president and prime minister?

The president is the head of state, responsible for foreign policy and defense, while the prime minister is the head of government, managing domestic policy and the administration.

Has a French president ever resigned?

Yes, Charles de Gaulle resigned in 1969 after a failed referendum. No other president has resigned since.

Can the French president be impeached?

Yes, but it requires a high threshold: a vote by both the National Assembly and the Senate, and a ruling by the Haute Cour.

Who was president of France during World War II?

France did not have a president at that time under the current republican sequence. The post-war presidency begins with the Fourth Republic in 1947 under Vincent Auriol.

What is the term length for a French president?

Since the 2000 referendum, the term length is 5 years. Before that, it was 7 years.

What is cohabitation in French politics?

Cohabitation occurs when the president is from a different political party than the majority in the National Assembly, forcing the president to appoint a prime minister from the opposition.

Who is the youngest French president?

Emmanuel Macron was the youngest at the time of his election in 2017, aged 39.

Who is the longest-serving French president?

François Mitterrand served the longest, from 1981 to 1995 (14 years).